Disease Course and Response to Immunotherapy in Children With Childhood Disintegrative Disorder: A Retrospective Case Series.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

Childhood disintegrative disorder is a poorly understood neurobehavioral disorder of early childhood characterized by acute to subacute profound regression in previously developed language, social behavior, and adaptive functions. The etiology of childhood disintegrative disorder remains unknown and treatment is focused on symptomatic management. Interest in neuroinflammatory mechanisms has grown with the increased recognition of autoimmune brain diseases and similarities between the presenting symptoms of childhood disintegrative disorder and pediatric autoimmune encephalitis. Importantly, a diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune encephalitis requires evidence of inflammation on paraclinical testing, which is absent in childhood disintegrative disorder. Here we report 5 children with childhood disintegrative disorder who were initially diagnosed with possible autoimmune encephalitis and treated with immunotherapy. Two children had provocative improvements, whereas 3 did not change significantly on immunotherapy. Additionally, a sixth patient with childhood disintegrative disorder evaluated in our Autoimmune Brain Disease Clinic showed spontaneous improvement and is included to highlight the variable natural history of childhood disintegrative disorder that may mimic treatment responsiveness.

Volume

39

Issue

1-2

First Page

11

Last Page

21

ISSN

1708-8283

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics

PubMedID

38115714

Department(s)

Department of Pediatrics

Document Type

Article

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