August 11, 2015
Treating PANDAS By Rodney P. Lusk, MD
Current treatments for PANDAS have been shown tobe relatively effective, but could surgical treatmentssuch as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy offer more effective...
Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels
Antoine Louveau, Igor Smirnov, Timothy J. Keyes, Jacob D. Eccles, Sherin J. Rouhani, J. David Peske, Noel C. Derecki, David Castle, James W. Mandell, Kevin S. Lee, Tajie H. Harris & Jonathan Kipnis
Nature-2015
The research findings reported in this study challenge the dogmas regarding the immune privilege status of the central nervous system (CNS) and its isolation from the immune system by the blood-brain barrier. Functional meningeal lymphatic vessels capable of carrying immune cells and interstitial fluids from the CNS are identified and characterized. Findings provide novel understanding on how autoimmune encephalopathies, like PANS/ PANDAS, can develop when these unique lymphatic vessels malfunction. Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels.
July 12, 2015
Can an Infection Trigger OCD?
Proposed link between infections and psychiatric disorders is still under review but gaining more recognition, resources among scientists MENLO PARK, Calif.—At the age of 7, Garrett Pohlman came...
June 1, 2015
In A Pickle Over PANDAS
The author's, Melanie S. Weiss, RNC-MNN, BSN, goals in writing this book were to explain a frightening illness to the children afflicted with it, in an informative but non-frightening way, and to...
N-acetyl cysteine in the treatment of obsessive compulsive and related disorders: a systematic review
Oliver G, Dean O, Camfield D, Blair-West S, Ng C, Berk M, Sarris J. N-acetyl cysteine in the treatment of obsessive compulsive and related disorders: a systematic review. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2015 Apr 30;13(1):12-24. doi: 10.9758/cpn.2015.13.1.12. PMID: 25912534; PMCID: PMC4423164.
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- 4 clinical trials, 5 case reports/series.
- NAC (2,400-3,000 mg/day) showed symptom reduction and good tolerability.
- 3 ongoing trials for OCD (2 adult, 1 pediatric) and 1 for excoriation.
- Conclusions: Promising results from pilot studies, with potential for future research.
Clinical Evaluation of Youth with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS): Recommendations from the 2013 PANS Consensus Conference
Kiki Chang, Jennifer Frankovich, Michael Cooperstock, Madeleine W. Cunningham, M. Elizabeth Latimer, Tanya K. Murphy, Mark Pasternack, Margo Thienemann, Kyle Williams, Jolan Walter, and Susan E. Swedo, From the PANS Collaborative Consortium
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology-2015
PDF
On May 23 and 24, 2013, the First PANS Consensus Conference was convened at Stanford University, calling together a geographically diverse group of clinicians and researchers from complementary fields of pediatrics: General and developmental pediatrics, infectious diseases, immunology, rheumatology, neurology, and child psychiatry. Participants were academicians with clinical and research interests in pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcus (PANDAS) in youth, and the larger category of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). The goals were to clarify the diagnostic boundaries of PANS, to develop systematic strategies for evaluation of suspected PANS cases, and to set forth the most urgently needed studies in this field. Presented here is a consensus statement proposing recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation of youth presenting with PANS.
January 24, 2015
Adult PANDAS: Seek and Ye Shall Find
The prevalence of PANDAS in adults is remarkable if one bothers to look! by Jory Goodman M.D. PANDAS occurs in adults. Period. Is most of it new onset, or has it been there a long time, since...
October 9, 2014
Little known disorder underscores education needs. By Patricia Rice Doran
The mother's story was one that I have heard many times over the past few months, with some variation in detail. Her child, an A and B student with many friends and outside interests, had awoken one...
October 1, 2014
My Son Almost Lost His Mind From Strep Throat
The Symptoms Melanie W., a New York mom of three boys, vividly remembers the day her middle son refused to go to school. John*, age 8, was a social, bright, and athletic kid who had just started...
July 28, 2014
PANS and Lyme Disease in ASD – Tracy Fritz, MD
Dr. Fritz will discuss signs and symptoms of PANS/Lyme and appropriate evaluation and treatment, including natural and pharmaceutical antimicrobials, immune modulating therapy, and an integrative...
July 1, 2014
Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders – PANS/PANDAS
This is an educational video about the autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, PANS and PANDAS. PANS, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric...
April 4, 2014
What is PANDAS? How Is It Different from Autism? Interview with S. Swedo
“PANDAS turned out to be the cause of new obsessive-compulsive symptoms in our son, who also has autism. But the lack of information and awareness left his symptoms untreated for nearly 3 years....