%0 Journal Article
%T What every psychiatrist should know about PANDAS: a review
%A Moretti Germana
%A Pasquini Massimo
%A Mandarelli Gabriele
%A Tarsitani Lorenzo
%J Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health
%D 2008
%I Bentham Open
%R 10.1186/1745-0179-4-13
%X The term Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus infections (PANDAS) was coined by Swedo et al. in 1998 to describe a subset of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and tic disorders triggered by group-A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes infection. Like adult OCD, PANDAS is associated with basal ganglia dysfunction. Other putative pathogenetic mechanisms of PANDAS include molecular mimicry and autoimmune-mediated altered neuronal signaling, involving calcium-calmodulin dependent protein (CaM) kinase II activity. Nonetheless the contrasting results from numerous studies provide no consensus on whether PANDAS should be considered as a specific nosological entity or simply a useful research framework. Herein we discuss available data that could provide insight into pathophysiology of adult OCD, or might explain cases of treatment-resistance. We also review the latest research findings on diagnostic and treatment.
%U http://www.cpementalhealth.com/content/4/1/13