Journal of Clinical Pediatrics ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 532-539.doi: 10.12372/jcp.2026.25e0962

• Original Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical characteristics and prognosis analysis of autoimmune encephalitis with movement disorders in children: A single-center retrospective study

SHI Yongyuan1,2, YANG Lijuan1,2, LEI Wenting1, XIONG Yurong1, PAN Shujing1, LI Yuelin1, ZHANG Jiali1, TIAN Maoqiang1()   

  1. 1 Department of Pediatrics, Guizhou Children's Hospital/Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563003, Guizhou, China
    2 Department of Pediatrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital, Bijie 551700, Guizhou, China
  • Received:2025-08-07 Revised:2025-11-17 Accepted:2025-12-04 Published:2026-06-15 Online:2026-06-04
  • Contact: TIAN Maoqiang E-mail:drmaoqiang@126.com

Abstract:

Objective Movement disorders are not uncommon clinical manifestations in children with autoimmune encephalitis (AE). The characteristics of movement disorders in children with AE and their impact on the clinical prognosis of AE remain to be systematically clarified. This study aims to investigate these issues through a systematic review of patients accumulated over 10 years in a single center. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 82 children diagnosed with AE from January 2014 to December 2023. Information on their general conditions, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatments, and prognoses was collected. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess the severity of the disease, and differences between different age groups were compared. Results The median age of onset was 9 (1.2 - 17) years, and 46.3% were positive for anti-neuronal antibodies, with anti-NMDAR encephalitis accounting for 39.0%. The most common symptoms were behavioral abnormalities, movement disorders, and epileptic seizures. The incidence of movement disorders was 68.3%, mainly characterized by stereotyped movements and orofacial movement disorders. The incidence of movement disorders was higher in children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis (81.3%). Age stratification showed that movement disorders were more common in the <12-year-old group (P<0.05), and orofacial movement disorders were particularly prominent in this group (P=0.027), and were only observed in children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in this group (P=0.004). The proportion of autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, anti-NMDAR antibody positivity, and mRS scores in the movement disorder group were all higher than those in the non-movement disorder group (P<0.05). The overall good prognosis rate was 70.7%, and the recurrence rate was 11.0%. Except for the mRS score at discharge being higher in the movement disorder group than in the non-movement disorder group (P=0.027), no differences were observed in other long-term prognosis indicators between the two groups. Conclusion The antibody positivity rate in children with AE is less than 50%, and the clinical manifestations are mainly behavioral abnormalities, movement disorders, and epileptic seizures. Movement disorders are more common in children under 12 years old and those with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Patients with autonomic dysfunction and sleep disorders are more likely to have movement disorders. Movement disorders are not a risk factor for poor prognosis in children with AE.

Key words: autoimmune encephalitis, anti-NMDAR encephalitis, movement disorders, child

CLC Number: 

  • R72