Initial cerebrospinal fluid-restricted oligoclonal bands associate with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis severity: a pilot study.

The presence of CSF-OCBs at the onset of disease in NMDARE patients was associated with initial treatment refractoriness and a more severe disease course leading to longer hospitalization, ICU admission, intractable seizures, and a poorer outcome. The results indicate that CSF-OCBs may be useful for prognostication. Furthermore, severe disease in NMDARE may be accompanied by oligoclonal expansion antibody-producing B cells.