<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive evidence synthesis including all available up-to-date data about the prevalence of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies (ABs) in psychotic patients in order to evaluate the clinical relevance of ABs as well as to specify potential explanations of the heterogeneity of the findings and determine areas for further research. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A literature search was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Forty-seven studies and 4 systematic reviews (including 2 meta-analyses) were included in the present review. Studies that used cell-based assays (CBAs) provided heterogeneous results on AB prevalence, obviously depending on the type of detection assay and sample characteristics. Improvement of AB detection methods is necessary to determine the real prevalence of ABs across different groups of patients and healthy people. Live CBAs seem to have better sensitivity but probably poorer specificity than fixed CBAs. Moreover, some links between AB-positive status and acute symptoms are possible. A small amount of data on immunotherapy in AB-positive patients raises the possibility of its effectiveness but obviously require further research. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> NMDAR ABs are definitely present in a subset of psychotic patients. NMDAR ABs might shape psychosis and underlie some symptoms, and immunotherapy might be regarded as a treatment option for patients failing to respond to other therapies.
We described a case of anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis presenting as febrile catatonia in a 22-year-old patient with no somatic burden. We looked into the dynamics of the disease and treatment strategy. In the discussion, we provided analysis of the presented case, as well as issues related to research perspectives in this field.
The role of kidneys in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is still a matter of debate. There is strong evidence that a disturbance in the function of normal kidney due to the loss of podocytes is the main cause of the development of proteinuria and hypertension. The release of podocytes, podocytic proteins and podocytic matrix ribonucleic acid (mRNA) can both be used for the diagnostics of preeclampsia and serve as a marker of the active disease of the kidney. The performed in this review analysis of publications showed that podocytes and podocytic proteins can be detected long before the appearance of proteinuria and hypertension, which makes them promising markers for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia. Measurement of the concentration of nephrin and its mRNA allows both assess the risk of development of preeclampsia and make the differential diagnosis between preeclampsia and gestational hypertension with a sufficiently high efficiency already in the second trimester of pregnancy, long before the appearance of the main signs of the disease.
For the early detection and successful treatment of NMDA receptor encephalitis, an easy-to-use and reliable test system must be developed. In addition, it is important to isolate NMDA-receptor encephalitis from various symptomatically similar mental illnesses. A reliable criterion is the detection of antibodies to NMDA receptors in the blood serum and CSF of patients.
This review highlights the features that affect fertility and pregnancy in women with eating disorders, possible complications and clinical management of such patients by an obstetrician-gynecologist. Such obstetric and gynecological aspects associated with eating disorders as fertility disorders, unplanned pregnancy, intrauterine growth retardation, miscarriage and premature labor, deficit of lactation and others are considered. We also describe the influence of pregnancy on the course of eating disorders: the possibility of remission, followed by a high risk of relapse, postpartum depression and anxiety disorders. Moreover, we talk about the necessity of screening eating disorders among women of reproductive age and the importance of multidisciplinary management of pregnancy in such patients.
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