P.026 Autoimmune encephalitis: modifiable and non-modifiable predictors of relapse

Abstract

Background: Approximately 25% of encephalitis cases in North America are immune mediated. For most forms of autoimmune encephalitis (AIE), risk of relapse is unclear and little evidence exists to guide which patients have the highest risk and whether standard treatments reduce this risk. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with AIE relapse. Methods: We performed a chart review consisting of patients with AIE presenting to the Calgary Neuro-Immunology Clinic and Tom Baker Cancer Centre between 2015 and 2020. Predictors of relapse were determined with use of t-test. Results: Outcome data was assessable in 39/40 patients, 17/39 (44%) patients relapsed. Seropositive patients and those with abnormal CSF were more likely to relapse, although neither reached statistical significance (p=0.12, 0.059). Patients with longer duration of steroid and steroid sparing treatment prior to relapse, and those on steroids at the time of relapse, had milder relapses (p=0.024, 0.026, 0.047). There was no difference in steroid or steroid sparing treatment use at 3, 6, and 12 months between groups. Conclusions: Risk of relapse in AIE is high (44%), with most relapses occurring in the first 3 years. Continuous immunosuppression lessens the severity of relapse, although our study did not confirm it reduced the occurrence of relapse.