Application of Multimodal EEG in TBI

AE generally refers to a type of encephalitis mediated by autoimmune mechanisms in which the body produces an autoimmune response to neurons. With the popularity of AE antibody determination, the incidence rate reported worldwide has increased each year. The disease often presents with an acute/subacute onset. After onset, patients quickly develop mental and behavioral abnormalities, language disorders, seizures, movement disorders, disturbances of consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, and other serious central nervous system symptoms that can threaten their lives. Because the clinical symptoms and related examinations of AE in the early stage are not specific, the disease is easily misdiagnosed. Some patients go to the psychiatric or infectious diseases department, delaying the optimal period of treatment. In addition, most AE patients enter the NICU for intensive care. The NICU typically includes a long hospital stay and high cost, which brings mental shock and huge economic pressure to the patient’s family, reducing the patient’s compliance and affecting further treatment with a serious impact on the recovery and prognosis of the patient. Therefore, the early diagnosis of AE is helpful to formulate individualized treatment plans for patients and reduce the incidence of residual sequelae and death. This chapter briefly describes the epidemiology of AE and related examination methods, focusing on the common EEG features of AE, such as slow waves, extreme δ brushes (EDBs), epileptiform discharges, and increased fast waves. At the same time, this chapter elaborates on the role of EEG in the early diagnosis, treatment, effective evaluation, and prognostic evaluation in AE, indicating that early, comprehensive evaluation and accurate diagnosis are important for the formulation of treatment plans and good prognosis in AE patients.