Childhood inflammatory brain diseases: pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy

Marinka Twilt; Susanne M Benseler

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ket398

Childhood inflammatory brain diseases: pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2014 Aug;53(8):1359-68. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ket398. Epub 2013 Dec 9.

Authors

Marinka Twilt¹, Susanne M Benseler²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. [email protected].

PMID: 24324213
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ket398

Abstract

Inflammatory brain diseases (IBrainDs) are a leading cause of devastating neurological deficits or neuropsychiatric syndromes in previously healthy children. The spectrum is expanding rapidly and new disease entities have been discovered in the last decade. IBrainD can occur as a primary disease or may occur secondary to an underlying cause. This review focuses on the clinical presentation, diagnostic features, pathology and histology characteristics and treatment of the primary childhood IBrainDs.

Keywords: NMDA receptor encephalitis; Rasmussen encephalitis; childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system; inflammatory brain disease; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica; neurosarcoidosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Brain / pathology*
Brain Diseases / diagnosis*
Brain Diseases / etiology
Brain Diseases / therapy
Child
Demyelinating Diseases / diagnosis*
Demyelinating Diseases / etiology
Demyelinating Diseases / therapy
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Inflammation / pathology
Sarcoidosis / diagnosis*
Sarcoidosis / etiology
Sarcoidosis / therapy
Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis*
Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / etiology
Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / therapy