14.1 immune markers and immunogenetics in pans

PANS is characterized by sudden-onset OCD and additional neuropsychiatric symptoms. Imaging studies point to inflammation in the basal ganglia as a potential driver of the mental health symptoms. Patients with PANS also develop other comorbid inflammatory disorders. Like other autoimmune diseases, during PANS disease flares, patients have high levels of the C4 split product, which is consistent with activation of this pathway. Because there is emerging evidence for copy number variations in the C4 gene, which presents with symptoms that affect the brain, we wanted to know whether patients with PANS have vulnerability for developing this illness due to aberrant copy numbers of the C4 gene in their genome.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Symposium 14 Source Type: research