Abstract:Objective To analyze blood-brain barrier injury and its risk factors in patients with autoimmune encephalitis.Methods A total of 90 patients with autoimmune encephalitis confirmed in the hospital were retrospectively analyzed between May 2018 and May 2023. According to presence or absence of blood-brain barrier injury, they were divided into injury group (n=41) and non-injury group (n=49). The clinical data in the two groups were collected. The risk factors of blood-brain barrier injury were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic multivariate regression analysis.Results The incidence of mental abnormality, reaction retardation, EEG δ brush abnormality and skull magnetic resonance abnormality in injury group was higher than that in non-injury group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the increase of protein level in cerebrospinal fluid, white blood cell (WBC) count, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and 24-hour intramural IgG synthesis rate between the two groups (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that mental retardation, EEG δ brush abnormality, protein increase >450 mg/L and IgG increase >4 mg/L were independent risk factors of blood-brain barrier injury (P<0.05).Conclusion The occurrence of blood-brain barrier injury is related to mental retardation, EEG δ brush abnormality, protein increase >450 mg/L and IgG increase >4 mg/L in patients with autoimmune encephalitis. The therapeutic regimens can be optimized according to the specific conditions of patients with autoimmune encephalitis.