The variation and significance of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup in children with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the variation of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup in children with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR)encephalitis and their clinical significance.Methods:This was a prospective and control study.Forty children primarily diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in the department of neurology in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 2017 to August 2019 served as patient group, 20 healthy children served as control group.Absolute counts and percentages of T, B and NK lymphocytes in whole blood were detected before and 1 month after treatment in patient group.Serum immunoglobulin G(IgG), IgA and IgM were measured before treatment.The blood levels of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup were detected with flow cytometer.NMDAR antibody titers of serum and cerebrospinal fluid were detected in patient group.The differences between patient group at different time points and control group were compared.The patients were divided into two groups according to the response to treatment after 2 weeks and the absolute counts of T, B and NK lymphocytes before treatment were compared between groups.Results:Compared with control group, the blood absolute count of B lymphocyte in patient group were significantly higher before and after treatment( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of B lymphocyte in patient group between before and after treatment.After treatment, T cells(including T inhibitory cells and T helper cells)were significantly increased compared with those before treatment and those in control group( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between patient group and control group before treatment.These with poor response to treatment after 2 weeks had higher level of B, T lymphocyte subgroup compared to those with good response( P<0.05). The level of IgG, IgA, IgM in patient group showed no significant difference with control group.There was no significant correlation between B lymphocyte count in blood and NMDAR antibody titer in cerebrospinal fluid( r=0.282, P>0.05). Conclusion:B lymphocytes increase greatly in children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and the level of B lymphocyte subgroup before treatment are associated with treatment response, and T lymphocytes increase greatly after treatment.There is no significant correlation between the titer of NMDAR antibody in cerebrospinal fluid and B lymphocyte level.