CSF Mitochondrial N-Formyl Methionine Peptide as Complementary Diagnostic Tool in Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis and Anti-LGI1 Encephalitis

Background: Mitochondrial damage is significant in autoimmune diseases, with mitochondrial N-formyl methionine peptide (fMet) being released from damaged mitochondria. However, its potential as a marker for assessing the severity of two kinds of encephalitis - anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) and anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) - remains uncertain. We measured CSF fMet levels in anti-NMDAR encephalitis and anti-LG1 encephalitis patients, assessing its diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

Methods: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and nineteen patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis were included in the study. Their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fMet levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in CSF fMet levels, which correlated with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores in both anti-NMDAR encephalitis and anti-LGI1 encephalitis patients.

Conclusion: The CSF fMet levels were found to be associated with disease severity in patients diagnosed with both anti-NMDAR encephalitis and anti-LGI1 encephalitis. These findings suggest that preventing mitochondrial damage could serve as an effective treatment strategy for managing these diseases.