Advanced neuroimaging for evaluating autoimmune encephalitis
Developing Advanced Neuroimaging for Clinical Evaluation of Autoimmune Encephalitis
This study is testing new brain imaging techniques to see how they can help understand brain changes in children and young adults recovering from autoimmune encephalitis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Ages | 8 Years to 24 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | King's College London Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (London, Greater London) |
| Trial ID | NCT05280600 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study focuses on using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to assess brain changes in children and young adults recovering from NMDAR-antibody encephalitis and other autoimmune encephalitides. The research aims to identify differences in brain structure, function, and chemistry compared to healthy individuals, and to explore how these neuroimaging findings can predict long-term cognitive and functional outcomes. By measuring specific neurometabolites and their correlation with brain connectivity, the study seeks to establish potential prognostic biomarkers for this condition.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include children and young adults aged 8-24 who have been diagnosed with NMDAR-antibody encephalitis or other forms of autoimmune encephalitis within the last 12 months.
Not a fit: Patients with contraindications for MRI scans or those with known neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved prognostic tools for predicting recovery outcomes in patients with autoimmune encephalitis.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of advanced neuroimaging techniques in autoimmune encephalitis is a growing field, this specific approach to identifying prognostic biomarkers is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA: NMDAR-antibody encephalitis group: 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment. 2. Disease onset in the last 12 months before study enrollment. 3. Meets consensus diagnostic criteria (Graus et al., 2016) for either probable anti-NMDAR encephalitis OR definite anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Antibody-negative autoimmune encephalitis group: 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment. 2. Disease onset in the last 12 months before study enrollment. 3. Meets consensus diagnostic criteria (Graus et al., 2016) for either autoantibody-negative but probable autoimmune encephalitis OR definite autoimmune limbic encephalitis. Healthy control group: 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: All participants: 1. Any clear contra-indication for an MRI scan. In particular this would be due to the presence of any implanted devices or metal from previous surgery or accident. Healthy control group: 1. A known neurological or neurodevelopmental disorder. NMDAR-antibody encephalitis and antibody-negative autoimmune encephalitis groups: 1. Alternative more likely cause of neurological symptoms than autoimmune encephalitis, i.e. reasonable exclusion of other diagnoses as per consensus criteria (Graus et al., 2016). 2. Severe movement disorder/uncontrolled epilepsy/dysautonomia. 3. Previous infective encephalitis with major destructive brain lesions.
Where this trial is running
London, Greater London
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust — London, Greater London, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David W Carmichael, PhD MSci — King's College London
- Study coordinator: Michael R Eyre, MBBS MRes
- Email: michael.eyre@kcl.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 207 1887188
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.