Table 1 Comparison of demographic and clinical Features of AE patients between the two groups

Age, \(\overline{x}\pm s\)  

7.7 ± 3.7

11.2 ± 5.8

0.086

Gender, n (%)

0.335

  Male

15 (53.6)

1 (20.0)

  Female

13 (46.4)

4 (80.0)

Clinical features, n (%)

  Abnormal mental behaviors

12 (42.9)

5 (100.0)

0.044

  Seizures

18 (64.3)

3 (60.0)

1.000

  Limb dyskinesia

16 (57.1)

1 (20.0)

0.175

  Sleep disorders

11 (39.3)

4 (80.0)

0.152

  Autonomic nervous Dysfunction

5 (17.9)

3 (60.0)

0.078

  Language barrier

13 (46.4)

4 (80.0)

0.335

  Memory loss

3 (10.7)

1 (20.0)

0.500

  Cognitive impairment

6 (21.4)

2 (40.0)

0.574

Premonitory symptom, n (%)

  Infection

14 (50.0)

3 (60.0)

1.000

  Fever

12 (42.9)

2 (40.0)

1.000

  Vomiting

4 (14.3)

1 (20.0)

1.000

  Headache/dizziness

7 (25.0)

3 (60.0)

0.149

  Cough

6 (21.4)

3 (60.0)

0.111

  Stomachache/diarrhea

5 (17.9)

2 (40.0)

0.282

Onset type, n (%)

1.000

  Acute

22 (78.6)

4 (80.0)

0.008*

  Subacute

6 (21.4)

1 (20.0)

mRS score at admission, n (%)

<0.001

  ≥ 3 score

0 (0.0)

5 (100.0)

  <3 score

28 (100.0)

0 (0.0)

MRI abnormalities, n (%)

15 (53.6)

1 (20.0)

0.335

CSF abnormalities, n (%)

14 (50.0)

5 (100.0)

0.057

EEG abnormalities, n (%)

21 (75.0)

5 (100.0)

0.559

Disease subtypes

0.056

  Anti-AMPAR encephalitis

1 (3.6)

0 (0.0)

  Anti-NMDAR encephalitis

13 (46.4)

4 (80.0)

  Hashimoto encephalitis

0 (0.0)

1 (20.0)

  Clinical diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis

14 (50.0)

0 (0.0)

Immune function status in remission, n (%)

0.304

  Normal

8 (28.6)

3 (60.0)

  Abnormal

20 (71.4)

2 (40.0)

Immunological therapy, n (%)

0.387

  First-line immunotherapy

15 (53.6)

1 (20.0)

  Second-line immunotherapy

8 (28.6)

2 (40.0)

  Long-term immunotherapy

5 (17.9)

2 (40.0)