Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) Syndrome: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in an Italian Centre of Pediatric Rheumatology

Abstract

Background. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) syndrome is a rare pediatric disorder consisting of a sudden onset of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tics after a group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. Methods. In the period between 2013 and 2023, 61 children presented to our Pediatric Rheumatology unit with a suspicion of PANDAS syndrome. Among these, a retrospective analysis was conducted, and 19 fulfilled the current classification criteria and were included in this study. Results. The male-to-female ratio was 14:5, the median age at onset was 7.0 (2.0–9.5) years, and the median age at diagnosis was 8.0 (3.0–10.4) years. The median follow-up period was 16.0 (6.0–72.0) months. Family and personal history were relevant in 7/19 and 6/19 patients. Tics were present in all patients. Details for motor tics were retrospectively available in 18/19 patients, with the eyes (11/18) and neck/head (10/18) being most often involved. Vocal tics were documented in 8/19, behavioral changes in 10/19, and OCD in 2/19. Regarding the therapeutic response, all patients responded to amoxicillin, 12/13 to benzathine benzylpenicillin, and 7/9 to azithromycin. Conclusions. Our findings partially overlap with previous reports. Larger prospective studies are needed to improve treatment strategies and classification criteria.