Development of Autoimmune Diseases Among Children With Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

Epidemiologic studies indicate a high rate of autoimmune conditions among patients with obsessive-complusive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Furthering the understanding of the inflammatory diatheses of psychiatric conditions may open doors to new treatment paradigms for psychiatric disorders.

In this cohort study of 193 children with PANS, there was a high frequency of nonspecific autoimmune markers (54.2%), immune dysregulation and inflammation markers (12.0%), and vasculopathy markers (35.8%) and a high estimated risk of developing arthritis and an additional autoimmune disease (28.3% and 7.5%, respectively) at 14 years of age. Those with arthritis often had joint capsule thickening (55.0%); common and unique physical examination findings included distal interphalangeal joint tenderness and spinous processes tenderness.

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