Childhood-onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the PANDAS Subgroup Are Contamination Fears Justified?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in DSM-IV Presence of OBSESSIONS – repetitive, intrusive thoughts or concerns; and COMPULSIONS – mental or physical rituals performed repetitively in response to anxiety or compulsive urge Symptoms are seen as senseless, excessive, or unreasonable Symptoms cause marked distress, are time- consuming, and/or significantly interfere with normal routine, work/school functioning, and/or social relationships

OCD Symptoms in Pediatric Patients OBSESSIONS Concerns about: Contamination Safety Right/wrong Intrusive thoughts: Counting Numbers/words Violent images COMPULSIONS Ordering/arranging Symmetry Hoarding/collecting Repeating rituals: Cleaning/Washing Checking Re-reading/writing (Certain # or “just right”)

Neurobiology of OCD PET scans demonstrate hypermetabolism of orbital frontal cortex and caudate nucleus; normalizes with response to treatment Structural and functional MRI scans demonstrate abnormalities of cortical/basal ganglia function (subtle abnormalities only) Neuropsychological deficits, particularly in executive functioning From: Rapoport & Wise

fMRI scan of the Orbitofrontal- Striatal-Thalamocortical Circuit Casey et al., 2002

Dysfunction in Striatum Dysfunction in GPi

Basal Ganglia Dysfunction in Childhood-onset OCD CT scans demonstrate decreased caudate size in adult males with childhood-onset Volumetric changes on structural MRI in caudate, putamen & globus pallidus Neuropsychological testing deficits Led to the search for a medical model From: Rapoport & others

P ediatric A utoimmune N europsychiatric D isorders A ssociated with S treptococcal infections

Background SYDENHAM CHOREA Sir William Osler – 1894 “perseverativeness” of behavior in choreic children Chapman, Freeman & Grimshaw – increased obsessional neurosis during episode and afterwards NIMH: 75% of SC children have OC symptoms Sao Paulo (1998): 65% have OCD at initial episode and 100% at recrudescence OCD/TIC DISORDERS Post-infectious tics described by vonEconomo & Sellinger in early 1900’s Choreiform movements present in 1/3 of children with OCD Episodic course, abrupt onset in some children with OCD Kiessling – Tic patients have antineuronal antibodies Young children with OCD/tic disorders exacerbate after streptococcal infections

Case Example C.B. 10 year old female awoke one morning “a changed child” Unable to dress secondary to fears of clothing being contaminated with blood and AIDS, and simultaneous fear that she would give AIDS to others. Fears quickly generalized to anything red and she began washing excessively Abrupt onset of motoric hyperactivity, twitches and tics, as well as handwriting deterioration Two days later developed separation anxiety, impulsivity and difficulties with concentration.

Criteria for PANDAS I.Presence of OCD and/or Tic Disorder II.Prepubertal onset III.Episodic course of symptom severity IV.Association with neurological abnormalities V.Temporal relationship between symptom exacerbations and streptococcal infections

Frequency of Comorbid Symptoms in PANDAS COMORBID DIAGNOSES ADHD – 40% ODD – 40% Depression – 36% Dysthymia – 12% Sep. Anxiety – 20% Overanxious – 28% Enuresis – 20% SYMPTOMS DURING EXACERBATIONS Choreiform movements - 95% Emotional lability – 66% School changes – 60% Personality change – 54% Bedtime fears – 50% Fidgetiness – 50% Separation fears – 40% Sensory defensiveness – 40% Irritability – 40% Impulsivity /distraction – 38%

Dysfunction in Striatum Dysfunction in GPi

Neuropsychological Tests of Executive Function BJ Casey et al, 2002

Structural MRI Giedd et al, 2000

Model of Pathogenesis for PANDAS GABHS Susceptible Host Abnormal Immune Response CNS & Clinical Manifestations

Model of Pathogenesis for PANDAS GABHS Susceptible Host Abnormal Immune Response CNS & Clinical Manifestations

Documentation of Etiologic Role for GABHS in Rheumatic Fever Direct Evidence –GABHS infection prior to rheumatic fever symptoms –Identification of “rheumatogenic” strains of GABHS Indirect Evidence –Epidemiologic studies showed temporal relationship –Penicillin prophylaxis prevents recrudescences –Rheumatic fever rates declined after antibiotic treatment of GABHS pharyngitis became routine

Epidemiological Evidence of a Relationship Between GABHS and Rheumatic Fever

Point Prevalences for Tics & Behavioral Problems in a Virginia Elementary School Population

ASO TITER -- Y-BOCS --- ASO TITER --- Y-BOCS ---

Azithromycin & Penicillin Prophylaxis Trial GOAL OF THE INVESTIGATION: To establish that azithromycin and penicillin provide effective prophylaxis against GABHS infections for the PANDAS subgroup. HYPOTHESIS OF THE INVESTIGATION: If antibiotics prophylaxis prevents GABHS infections, then neuropsychiatric symptom exacerbations will be decreased.

Penicillin (PCN) vs. Azithromycin (Zith) Streptococcal Infections* –Year Prior to Study2.0/ subject –Study Year0.0/ subject Exacerbations* –Year Prior to Study2.0/ subject –Study Year.74/ subject *T >5.25; p< 0.01 for both N = 22

PENICILLINAZITHROMYCIN

Model of Pathogenesis for PANDAS GABHS Susceptible Host Abnormal Immune Response Clinical Manifestations

PANDAS – Host Susceptibility Increased familial rates of OCD & tics –36/50 (67%) of PANDAS probands had an affected 1 o relative –15% of relatives had OCD –15% of relatives had tic disorder Increased familial rates of rheumatic fever –5/126 (4%) PANDAS parents/grandparents affected –6/90 (7%) of Sydenham parents/grandparents affected –3/210 (1.4%) of controls parents/grandparents affected (Lougee et al, 2000)

Host Susceptibility VULNERABLE CHILD IMMUNOLOGIC NEUROLOGIC GENETICS TYPES OF EXPOSURES

Model of Pathogenesis for PANDAS GABHS Susceptible Host Abnormal Immune Response Clinical Manifestations

PANDAS – Abnormal Immune Response Local –Identification of antineuronal antibodies Regional –Pathological reports from Sydenham chorea –Volumetric changes in basal ganglia Systemic –Cytokine abnormalities –Effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapies

Antineuronal Antibodies in OCD/Tics Kiessling et al. – Serum antibodies recognize human caudate and neuroblastoma cell line Singer et al. – Antibodies against human caudate & putamen; but also present in 40% controls. Hallett et al. – Serum from patients induces stereotypies in rats infused in basal ganglia Morshed et al. – Antibodies against striatum among patients; sera also induces stereotypies Cunningham et al. – Cross-reactive antibodies present in sera of acutely ill SC patients; affects cell signaling Kirvan et al – Cross-reactive antibodies in PANDAS sera are comparable to those in SC, but lower concentrations.

Reactivity with Neurons and Caudate/Putamen PANDAS Controls SC Control PANDAS Controls

Induced CaM kinase II Activity

Immunomodulatory Treatment Trial Plasma Exchange vs. IVIG vs. Placebo

Response to Immunomodulatory Therapy with IVIG (n=9) or Plasmapheresis (n=8)

Caudate Size in 14 y.o. Patient with OCD

Childhood-onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and PANDAS Are Contamination Fears Justified?