Abstract:

Autoimmune encephalitis （AE） refers to a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the central nervous system （CNS）. Due to its diverse clinical manifestations and overlapping features with other neurological disorders，the differential diagnosis of AE presents significant challenges. At present，an increasing number of AE have been identified as distinct subtypes，and different subtypes were associated with specific clinical syndromes and potentially pathogenic antibodies. In clinical laboratory testing，in addition to routine biochemical examinations of blood and cerebrospinal fluid （CSF），the determination of specific autoantibodies in serum or CSF provides critical diagnostic insights. The main determination methods include indirect immunofluorescence assay （IFA），enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and line immunoassay （LIA）. These autoantibodies typically target neuronal antigens，categorizing AE into paraneoplastic AE and AE mediated by antibodies against neuronal surface or synaptic antigens. This article comprehensively reviews 4 aspects：the pathological mechanisms of AE，the types of associated autoantibodies，advancements in laboratory determination techniques and the application of autoantibodies in the diagnosis of AE. The aim is to enhance clinical understanding of AE and provide references for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Key words: Autoimmune encephalitis, Autoantibody, Clinical laboratory determination