Exploring the Molecular/Pathological Mechanisms of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis or Autoimmune Diseases
Dear Colleagues,
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an acute autoimmune disease that has attracted attention in recent years because of the increasing cases of this disease. It presents a multistage illness progressing from initial psychiatric symptoms to memory disturbances, seizures, dyskinesia and catatonia. The treatments include first-line immunotherapies: steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasmapheresis (or plasma exchange); and second-line immunotherapy such as rituximab or cyclophosphamide. This disease occurs more often in females than in males. A proportion of female patients have also been detected with ovarian tumors. The cause of this disease is often unknown. The pathogenic mechanism of a proportion of patients may be related to virus infection, tumor, and vaccination. Several anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis cases have been reported to be related to vaccination against H1N1 influenza or tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and poliomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis vaccination. In addition, herpes simplex encephalitis was reported to be associated with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis may not be diagnosed at an early stage that may lead to a delay in treatment and unsatisfactory outcomes. Researches on biological biomarkers to help early diagnose are as important as those on medicine development. In this special issue, we seek reviews and original research papers focusing on a wide range of Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and other autoimmune diseases studies.
Prof. Hsiuying Wang
Guest Editor
Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2500 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.