Case report finds severe abdominal pain as a key symptom in autoimmune encephalitis, suggesting variability in clinical presentation.
BACKGROUND: Anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 encephalitis (DPPXE) is an exceptionally rare form of autoimmune encephalitis characterized by a highly heterogeneous clinical phenotype. METHODS: In this study, we report a Chinese patient presenting with severe abdominal pain as a prominent symptom; furthermore, we conducted a systematic review and analysis of 125 cases of DPPXE (including the present case). RESULTS: This rare case presented with severe abdominal pain as a prominent symptom. We comprehensively summarized the clinical presentations, patterns of recurrence, and therapeutic responses of DPPXE. Notably, by comparing the clinical characteristics of DPPXE cases reported in China with those from other regions, we found some differences in disease presentation, suggesting potential racial or geographic variability. CONCLUSION: Our findings may provide up-to-date and comprehensive insights into the pathophysiology and clinical course of this rare disorder from multiple perspectives.
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Shi et al. (2026) studied this question.
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