Use of intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis: audit of the NHS experience
Dr. Irani of Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group, and one of the authors of this paper has expressed: "We really need to find a way to ensure outcomes are accurately recorded while securing the treatment for patients who require it."
Participants in study-
Hospital in-patients with confirmed or suspected autoimmune/limbic encephalitis between September 2010 and January 2017.
Results
A total of 625 patients who were 18 years of age or older were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin for autoimmune encephalitis, of whom 398 were determined as having 'highly likely' or 'definite' autoimmune/limbic encephalitis. Ninety-six percent were treated with a single course of intravenous immunoglobulin. The availability and accuracy of reporting of outcomes was very poor, with complete data only available in 27% of all cases.
Conclusions
This is the first review of data from this unique national database. Whilst there was evidence for clinical improvement in many cases of patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, the quality of outcome data was generally inadequate.
