3720 Revista de Neuro-Psiquiatría Rev. Neuro-Psiquiat 0034-8597 1609-7394 Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Perú revista.neuro.psiquiatria@oficinas-upch.pe 372083067011 10.20453/rnp.v88i2.5512 Carta al editor The Autoinmune Encephalitis Registry in Latin American countries: The REAL LABIC Project Registro de Encefalitis Autoinmune en países de Latinoamérica: proyecto REAL LABIC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8538-6242 Vences Miguel A mavences@ucvvirtual.edu.pe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7909-0971 Godoy Daniel A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1231-9380 Rivillas Julián A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3230-3263 Reyes-Niño Saúl https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3238-8855 García-Arellano Maricela https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-4133 Melgarejo Donoband https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-3484 Araujo-Chumacero Mary M. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1504-9160 Johnston Cíntia Universidad César Vallejo, Medicine School. Piura, Perú. Perú Piura Universidad César Vallejo Sanatorio Pasteur. Catamarca, Argentina. Argentina Catamarca Sanatorio Pasteur Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital Universitario, Departamento de Neurología. Colombia. Colombia Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital Universitario Universidad Icesi, Departamento de Salud Pública. Cali, Colombia. Colombia Cali Universidad Icesi Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard Institute. London, UK. Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte London Queen Mary University of London Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Department of Neurology. Bogotá, Colombia. Colombia Bogotá Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá Universidad de los Andes, School of Medicine. Bogotá, Colombia. Colombia Bogotá Universidad de los Andes Centenario Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos. Aguascalientes, México. México Aguascalientes Centenario Hospital Miguel Hidalgo Instituto de Previsión Social, Servicio de Neurología. Paraguay, Asunción. Paraguay Asunción Instituto de Previsión Social EsSalud, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Departamento de Neurología. Lima, Perú. Perú Lima EsSalud, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins Universidade de São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. São Paulo, Brasil. Brasil São Paulo Universidade de São Paulo Corresponding author: Miguel A. Vences, e-mail: mavences@ucvvirtual.edu.pe April-June 2025 88 2 186 189 2025 Revista de Neuro-Psiquiatría https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Esta obra está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional. https://revistas.upch.edu.pe/index.php/RNP/article/view/5512/6186 redalyc-journal-id 3720 <p>Dear Editor,</p> <p>Autoimmune encephalitis is a disease of significant clinical relevance and has been identified as one of the primary causes of admission for encephalitis of non-infectious etiology (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="redalyc_372083067011_ref1">1</xref>). It encompasses a broad spectrum of immunological disorders that affect the central nervous system. Given its considerable clinical diversity, Graus et al. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="redalyc_372083067011_ref2">2</xref>) postulated a clinical approach to establish diagnostic criteria and levels of confirmation in this entity, aiming to initiate prompt immunotherapy, which is associated with a better functional prognosis in these patients.</p> <p>Due to the significant neurological compromise of these patients and the occurrence of complications such as status epilepticus, dysautonomia and systemic in-hospital issues, these patients should be promptly admitted to neurocritical care units and evaluated by a multidisciplinary team (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="redalyc_372083067011_ref3">3</xref>).</p> <p>In Latin America, multiple barriers have been described in the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune encephalitis, potentially resulting in underreporting of this condition. The management of this pathology is complex due to the broad differential diagnosis that must be ruled out, the therapeutic options available and the conditions of the health system existing in each country in our region (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="redalyc_372083067011_ref4">4</xref>).</p> </sec> <sec> <title> <bold>THE REAL LABIC PROJECT</bold>

Latin America Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC) is a nonprofit entity founded in 2003 in Argentina by Latin-American professionals, representing 19 countries with a special interest and dedication to Neurointensive care. The main objective of the consortium is to conduct research and educational activities involving the training of professionals in the field of neurocritical care, thus developing and disseminating recommendations and guidelines for the management of different acute brain diseases, according to the resources, possibilities, and limitations of each region. LABIC encourages cooperation with other brain injury consortia, foundations, associations, and scientific associations around the world. The LABIC Foundational letter is available at www.labic.la.

The Autoimmune Encephalitis Registry in Latin American countries (REAL LABIC Project) is a LABIC initiative, officially announced on April 27, 2023, and with a university research registry (050-CEI-EPM-UCV-2023), which was born out of the need to understand different aspects of autoimmune encephalitis, especially its epidemiology, clinical evolution and management protocols in our region of Latin America.

<bold>Objectives</bold>

To describe the strengths and weaknesses in the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and continued medical education in autoimmune encephalitis in the Latin American region.

To develop a Latin American registry of autoimmune encephalitis cases that allows us to understand the clinical outcomes of this disease and its associated factors.

To integrate all specialties that are directly or indirectly linked to this disease, including academic meetings and training activities in this entity.

To invite the Latin American scientific community involved in the care of patients with autoimmune encephalitis to propose collaborative multicenter research initiatives and management consensus in our region.

<bold>Members</bold>

The REAL LABIC Project consists of a multidisciplinary team including adult intensivists, pediatric intensivists, neurointensivists, neurologists, pediatricians, neuropediatricians, internal medicine specialists, psychiatrists, rehabilitation speciliasts, among others. These members are experts from various Latin American countries who have experience in managing autoimmune encephalitis. Currently, the project has 108 members from 17 Latin American countries (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Geographical distribution of the REAL LABIC Projet collaborators in Latin American countries.

 <bold>Activities</bold>

Members of scientific societies across different Latin American countries have been engaged in promoting the project. Several meetings have been conducted, and planning for five multicenter research studies has been initiated. The retrospective phase of the REAL LABIC Project is currently underway, including data analysis.

 <bold>CONCLUSION</bold>

Promoting regional initiatives in Latin America is crucial for gaining a better understanding of the landscape of autoimmune encephalitis. These initiatives should involve the entire multidisciplinary team responsible for managing the condition. The REAL LABIC Project presents an opportunity to achieve the fundamental goal of improving the care provided to patients with autoimmune encephalitis in Latin America.

 <bold>REFERENCES</bold> 1. Dubey D, Pittock SJ, Kelly CR, McKeon A, Lopez-Chiriboga AS, Lennon VA, et al. Autoimmune encephalitis epidemiology and a comparison to infectious encephalitis. Ann Neurol [Internet]. 2018; 83(1): 166-177. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25131 Dubey D Pittock SJ Kelly CR McKeon A Lopez-Chiriboga AS Lennon VA et al Autoimmune encephalitis epidemiology and a comparison to infectious encephalitis Ann Neurol 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25131 2. Graus F, Titulaer MJ, Balu R, Benseler S, Bien CG, Cellucci T, et al. A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Lancet Neurol [Internet]. 2016; 15(4): 391-404. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00401-9 Graus F Titulaer MJ Balu R Benseler S Bien CG Cellucci T et al A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis Lancet Neurol 2016 https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00401-9 3. Harutyunyan G, Hauer L, Dünser MW, Karamyan A, Moser T, Pikija S, et al. Autoimmune encephalitis at the Neurological Intensive Care Unit: etiologies, reasons for admission and survival. Neurocrit Care [Internet]. 2017; 27(1): 82-89. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-016-0370-7 Harutyunyan G Hauer L Dünser MW Karamyan A Moser T Pikija S et al Autoimmune encephalitis at the Neurological Intensive Care Unit: etiologies, reasons for admission and survival Neurocrit Care [Internet]. 2017; 27(1): 82-89. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-016-0370-7 2017 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-016-0370-7 4. Vasconcelos GA, Barreira RM, Antoniollo KE, Pinheiro AM, Maia CF, Alves DM, et al. Autoimmune encephalitis in Latin America: a critical review. Front Neurol [Internet]. 2021; 11: 606350. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.606350 Vasconcelos GA Barreira RM Antoniollo KE Pinheiro AM Maia CF Alves DM et al Autoimmune encephalitis in Latin America: a critical review Front Neurol 2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.606350 Notes

REAL LABIC Group:

Mercedes A. Suárez-Loro; Stefany Espinoza-Ramon; Diego Canales-Pichen; Victor Saquisela; Jesús Angel Dominguez Rojas; Carla Gabriela Román Ojeda; William Bayona Pancorbo; Vanessa Cristina Godoy; Habib Moutran-Barroso; Carolina Velázquez; Marlene Romero; María Belen Gómez; Jorge Flecha; José Domingo Barrientos; Silvia Fabiola García Martínez; Maria Alejandra Gramajo Juárez; Ana Beatriz Sontay Chan; Miguel Angel Pelcastre Mejía; Karen Perales; Gustavo Domeniconi; Milagros García; Wilfor Aguirre; Oriani Moreno; Telmo Fernández; Marcos Teheran; Danilo Fischer; María Eugenia Vázquez; Sebastián Vásquez-García; Werther Brunow de Carvalho; Lucia Flores Lazo; Martha Gamez Blandon; Cristina Verdú Sánchez; Óscar Eduardo Sotelo; Diego Galindo Talavera; Paul Cardozo Gil; Sergio Rovira; Gonzalo Lacuesta Mendiondo; Viviana Sampietro Serafim; Oscar Cabrera; Lorena Acevedo; Gustavo Costales; Michele Luglio; Sofía Posadas Gutierrez; Alcides Díaz Claros; Rolando Cusimayta Soto; Angella Cabanillas Olivares; Luis Fermin Naranjo Atehortúa; Luisa Rueda Cardenas; Yesica Luna Delgado; Sandra Flores Irias; Jorge Gramajo; Sandra Rodríguez Guifarro; Julio Guevara Jiménez; Caridad de Dios Soler Morejón; Elvia Borges H.; Julián Morejón Chávez; Nilcea Freire Nil; Walter Valverde; David Villegas; Walter Videtta; Juan Carlos Acuña Mamani; Yamirka Montesino Felipe; Frank Martos Benítez; Xiomara Mora De la Cruz; Luis E. Rodríguez; Carlos Alberto Gonzalez; and Miguel A. Barboza.

MAV, DAG: conceptualization, data curation, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing. JAR, SRN, MGA, DM, MMAC, CJ: data curation, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing.