Study confirms utility of Cunningham Panel for symptoms of Autoimmune Encephalopathy

Today, on PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day, we call attention to two infection-induced autoimmune conditions that appear suddenly in young children and can cause a drastic disruption to their normal neurologic functioning.

Parents report that symptoms appear “almost overnight” causing confusion and distress for both parents and child. Symptoms include the sudden onset of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), motor tics, hyperactivity, depression, memory problems, sleep disturbances, anorexia, and urinary problems.

While both conditions share highly similar symptoms, their causes differ. PANS is triggered by a variety of infections (bacterial and viral), while PANDAS is more specifically associated with the body’s immune response to Group A Streptococcal infection. Because the symptoms mimic psychiatric disorders, children with PANS and PANDAS are often misdiagnosed and treated as having a psychiatric condition rather than an auto-immune condition which requires vastly different treatment courses.

In 2020, a study co-authored by Dr. Kaplan was published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology. The study looked at The Cunningham Panel (a panel of laboratory tests created to assist clinicians in diagnosing autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders) as a valuable diagnostic tool for PANS/PANDAS—and Dr. Kaplan’s work continues today through the Foundation for Total Recovery. Current initiatives include improving emergency room protocols so first responders and healthcare workers are better equiped and better educated in identifying and treating PANS/PANDAS patients.

If you are a caregiver and suspect your child may be affected, seek professional help today. There IS HOPE for children with PANS/PANDAS; with the right medical support, symptoms can improve—and families can heal.