Novel Insights and Technological Advances in Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Diagnosis and Prognosis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 681

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
Interests: neurology; neuroimmunology; neuroinflammation; Encephalitis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past two decades, the field of clinical neuroimmunology and neuroinflammation has undergone rapid advancement, driven largely by the discovery and application of novel anti-neural antibodies as diagnostic markers. A landmark example is the identification of anti-NMDAR antibodies, which heralded a new era in the clinical management of antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis. Concurrently, diagnostic biomarkers in biochemistry and neuroimaging continue to be developed and integrated into clinical practice, substantially expanding and deepening our understanding of neuroimmune disorders. As a result, clinical neuroimmunology has emerged as a highly prominent and dynamically evolving subspecialty within neurology.

Over the past six years, neurologists have faced the challenge of managing COVID-19-related neuroimmune and neuroinflammatory disorders, leading to a deeper understanding of how both innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of these conditions. The growing recognition of para-infectious encephalopathy, triggered by COVID-19, has, to a large extent, addressed the difficulties in diagnosing and etiologically classifying encephalopathy/encephalitis-associated respiratory virus infection. In this field, research on diagnostic biomarkers and criteria continues to develop with ongoing momentum.

This Special Issue encourages original research on diagnostic technology for neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disease. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced technology for diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune cerebellar ataxia
  • Research on diagnosis biomarkers of para-infectious encephalopathy or infection-triggered encephalopathy syndrome
  • Proposal and validation of diagnostic criteria of neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disease based on clinical cohort studies
  • AI approaches for the diagnosis of neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disease
  • Research on the clinical characteristics and mechanisms of rare neuroimmune diseases
  • Research on technology for diagnosis of CNS infections disease, especially emerging infectious diseases

Prof. Dr. Hongzhi Guan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • neuroimmunology
  • neuroinflammation
  • autoimmune
  • encephalitis
  • infection
  • diagnosis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 683 KB  
Article
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Ocrelizumab Treatment
by Burçin Çakır, Seren Kaplan Güngördü, Nilgün Özkan Aksoy and Dilcan Kotan
Diagnostics 2026, 16(6), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16060936 - 22 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate macular vessel area densities (superficial and deep) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements using OCT-A in the eyes of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients receiving Ocrelizumab treatment with or without optic nerve [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate macular vessel area densities (superficial and deep) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements using OCT-A in the eyes of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients receiving Ocrelizumab treatment with or without optic nerve involvement. Methods: The medical records of PPMS patients who received Ocrelizumab treatment at least once were reviewed. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements and OCT-A analysis were conducted on the PPMS patients and on age-matched healthy individuals. The patient group was divided into two subgroups: eyes with optic neuritis (PPMS+ON) and eyes without ON (PPMS-ON). Central and mean superficial vessel area (SVA) and deep vessel area (DVA) densities, as well as foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements, were analyzed. All parameters were statistically compared between groups and subgroups. Results: A total of 38 PPMS patients receiving Ocrelizumab treatment and 31 healthy individuals were included in this study. Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), RNFL thickness, and the superficial vessel area densities for all parts except for the central part. In terms of deep vessel area densities, differences were found in the central and inferior parts. The mean FAZ area also showed a statistically significant difference between groups. Mean RNFL thickness differed significantly between the subgroups. Mean nasal, temporal, inferior part, and total superficial vessel area densities were statistically different between the subgroups. The central and inferior parts of the deep vessel area densities showed statistically significant differences. The mean FAZ area was also statistically different between the subgroups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that macular superficial and deep vascular densities are affected in PPMS patients receiving the same therapy modality and that previous optic neuritis may influence the results. Full article
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15 pages, 4969 KB  
Article
Clinical Phenotypes and Prognosis of Anti-mGluR1 Encephalitis: A Single-Center Case Series and Comprehensive Literature Review
by Rui Ban, Yueyi Yu, Jingli Jiang, Dongchao Shen, Mange Liu, Siyuan Fan, Haitao Ren and Hongzhi Guan
Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020321 - 19 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Anti-mGluR1 encephalitis is a rare form of autoimmune encephalitis predominantly manifesting as acute/subacute cerebellar ataxia. We describe a newly diagnosed case series from our center and conduct a comprehensive review of reported cases worldwide to compare clinical manifestations, treatment options, and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Anti-mGluR1 encephalitis is a rare form of autoimmune encephalitis predominantly manifesting as acute/subacute cerebellar ataxia. We describe a newly diagnosed case series from our center and conduct a comprehensive review of reported cases worldwide to compare clinical manifestations, treatment options, and outcomes. Methods: We consecutively identified 11 patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and additionally extracted clinical data from 42 previously published cases identified via PubMed and Google Scholar (search updated to 1 August 2025). Demographics, phenotypes, laboratory findings, imaging, treatment, and outcomes were systematically summarized. This pooled review was not prospectively registered, and extracted data from 21 published articles were analyzed alongside our 11 newly diagnosed cases. Results: The integrated cohort comprised 53 patients with anti-mGluR1 encephalitis, including 29 males and 24 females, with patients reported from Asia (n = 18), North America (n = 11), and Europe (n = 24). The median age at onset was 50 years (IQR 29.5–58.5; range 3–81), with North American patients presenting later than their Asian and European counterparts (median 60 vs. 48 and 45 years, respectively; all p < 0.05). Disease onset was subacute in most cases (58.7%). Comorbid tumors were present in nine patients, most commonly lymphomas. Clinical phenotypes were classified as pure cerebellar syndrome (n = 31), cerebellar ataxia with encephalitic features (n = 20), and non-cerebellar presentations (n = 2). Baseline severity differed across phenotypes (χ2 = 35.7, p < 0.001). Regional variability in severity was observed but did not reach significance. CSF analyses revealed pleocytosis in 59% (23/39), elevated protein in 31.3% (5/16), and oligoclonal bands in 52.2% (12/23). MRI abnormalities were detected in 34.7% (17/49) of patients, with 21.9% (7/32) developing cerebellar atrophy on follow-up. Therapeutic strategies varied significantly across regions (p = 0.041), with Asian cohorts more frequently receiving long-term immunosuppression, European cohorts favoring combined regimens, and North American cases relying predominantly on first-line therapies. Overall, 65.9% (29/44) of patients clinically improved, 13.6% (6/44) relapsed and 20.5% (9/44) remained unaffected. Conclusions: Anti-mGluR1 encephalitis presents with significant clinical heterogeneity, ranging from cerebellar-dominant ataxia to neuropsychiatric or non-cerebellar phenotypes, and demonstrates differences in reported age of onset, disease severity, and therapeutic approaches across publication regions. Our findings underscore the importance of early recognition, sustained immunotherapy, and international collaboration to establish standardized, evidence-based management for this rare but disabling disorder. Full article
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