Fig. 1

Comparison of sTREM2, MMP9, and CD44 levels in serum and CSF between anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and controls. A, B The CSF sTREM2 levels were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the anti-NMDAR encephalitis group, and the serum sTREM2 levels also showed an increasing trend (p = 0.003) compared with the controls. C The serum MMP9 levels were higher (p = 0.016) in the anti-NMDAR encephalitis group than in the controls. D, E CD44 levels in both the serum (D, p = 0.003) and the CSF (E, p = 0.18) were significantly higher in the anti-NMDAR encephalitis group than in the control group. Differences in CSF sTREM2 levels, serum sTREM2 levels, serum MMP9 levels, and CSF CD44 levels were assessed by the Mann‒Whitney test between the anti-NMDAR encephalitis group and the control group. Differences in serum CD44 levels were assessed by the independent two-sample t test. The above statistical results have been adjusted for age and sex