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Paediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Exploratory study finds no evidence of HLA class II association but high rate of autoimmunity in first‐degree relatives

Elisabeth Fernell, Mikael Sundin, Anders Fasth, Lisa Dinkler, Martyna Galazka, Christopher Gillberg, Mats Johnson Acta Paediatr. DOI: 10.1111/apa.15805

Conclusion
No HLA allele association such as seen in children with narcolepsy after H1N1 immunisation could be confirmed in this group of children with PANS. However, more than half the group had a first‐degree relative with a diagnosed autoimmune disease.

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SARS-CoV-2 related Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

Piero Pavone, Manuela Ceccarelli, Silvia Marino, Daniela Caruso, Raffaele Falsaperla, Massimiliano Berretta, et al. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2021 . May 04, 2021 DOI:10.1016/S2352-4642(21)00135-8

“Post-infectious, autoimmune, and neuro-inflammatory events are the main mechanisms of Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).4 PANS presents with a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or a severely restricted food intake, and concurrent neuropsychiatric symptoms and motor dysfunction.4 The estimated prevalence of OCD in childhood and adolescence is 0·25–4·00%, with those aged between 16–18 years (1%) having the highest prevalence.5, 6, 7 Here, we report on two unrelated children with PANS that started 2 weeks after a positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab.”

  • Two young adolescents Diagnosed with COVID-19 by a nasal swab
  • PANS started 2 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis
  • Had acute new OCD, neuropsychiatric, and motor dysfunction symptoms
  • SARS-CoV-2 needs to be acknowledged in the differential diagnosis of PANS

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Rheumatological and Inflammatory Diseases: A Systematic Review

Alsheikh A M, Alsheikh M M (May 01, 2021) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Rheumatological and Inflammatory Diseases: A Systematic Review. Cureus 13(5): e14791. doi:10.7759/cureus.14791

“Conclusions: Based on our findings, there is a strong correlation between OCD and different inflammatory as well as rheumatological biomarkers. Such correlations have been demonstrated in both adult and pediatric populations. Future studies should examine the safety and efficacy of anti-inflammatory medications, especially NSAIDs, for the management and control of OCD symptoms in both adults and children, particularly in the early stages of the disease.”