| CASE REPORTS |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 16
| Issue : 4 | Page : 327-331 |
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor encephalitis as a harbinger of pediatric HIV infection
Divya Nagabushana1, Thavasimuthu Nishamol1, Kajari Bhattacharya2, Jitender Saini2, Ravindranadh Chowdary1, Anita Mahadevan3, Kiran Polavarapu1, Nalini Atchayaram1
1 Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
2 Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Neuroradiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
3 Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Nalini Atchayaram
Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Faculty Block, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru 560 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jpn.JPN_225_20
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor (A-NMDAR) encephalitis is the most common type of autoimmune encephalitis in the pediatric age group. It is known to be triggered by viral infections such as herpes simplex infections. However, A-NMDAR encephalitis with HIV infection is a very rare event, with cases reported mostly in adults. The current report is of a previously healthy child who presented with recurrent vomiting, irritability, visual impairment, and new onset complex partial seizures and right somatosensory seizures with generalization occurring in clusters. Over a period of 3 weeks, he developed rapidly progressive bilateral painless visual loss, visual hallucinations, and behavioral changes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed predominantly cortical symmetrical T2/FLAIR hyperintense signal change in parieto-occipito-temporal regions. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid were strongly positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies, and he also tested positive for HIV-1 antibodies acquired by vertical transmission. The patient and mother tested positive for HIV antibodies for the first time. Repeat MRI revealed gliosis in the parieto-occipito-temporal regions, and hippocampi showed volume loss and T2/FLAIR hyperintense signal change in the posterior thalami with patchy hyperintensities in the right putamen. The seizures subsided with immunomodulation along with anti-epileptic drugs, but he had residual cortical visual impairment on follow-up. This is the first report of A-NMDAR encephalitis presenting as a harbinger of HIV infection in a child. This calls for testing for A-NMDAR antibodies in children with HIV infection presenting with neurological or neuropsychiatric manifestations.
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