Anti-dopamine D2 receptor antibodies in chronic tic disorders.

Abstract

AIM:

To investigate the association between circulating anti-dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) autoantibodies and the exacerbation of tics in children with chronic tic disorders (CTDs).

METHOD:

One hundred and thirty-seven children with CTDs (108 males, 29 females; mean age [SD] 10y 0mo [2y 7mo], range 4-16y) were recruited over 18 months. Patients were assessed at baseline, at tic exacerbation, and at 2 months after exacerbation. Serum anti-D2R antibodies were evaluated using a cell-based assay and blinded immunofluorescence microscopy scoring was performed by two raters. The association between visit type and presence of anti-D2R antibodies was measured with McNemar's test and repeated-measure logistic regression models, adjusting for potential demographic and clinical confounders.

RESULTS:

At exacerbation, 11 (8%) participants became anti-D2R-positive ('early peri-exacerbation seroconverters'), and nine (6.6%) became anti-D2R-positive at post-exacerbation ('late peri-exacerbation seroconverters'). The anti-D2R antibodies were significantly associated with exacerbations when compared to baseline (McNemar's odds ratio=11, p=0.003) and conditional logistic regression confirmed this association (Z=3.49, p<0.001) after adjustment for demographic and clinical data and use of psychotropic drugs.

INTERPRETATION:

There is a potential association between immune mechanisms and the severity course of tics in adolescents with CTDs.

• Authors: Francesco Addabbo, Valentina Baglioni, Anette Schrag, Markus J Schwarz, Andrea Dietrich, Pieter J Hoekstra, Davide Martino, Maura Buttiglione, Emtics Collaborative Group
• Journal: Developmental medicine and child neurology (Dev Med Child Neurol) Vol. 62 Issue 10 Pg. 1205-1212 (10 2020) ISSN: 1469-8749 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32644201 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 Mac Keith Press.

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Receptors, Dopamine D2

Topics

• Adolescent
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Receptors, Dopamine D2 (immunology)
• Tic Disorders (blood, immunology)