FIRED UP: Immune Dysregulation in the Central Nervous System

Monday, October 27, 2025

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Central Time

Moderator(s)

JM

Joseph McDonald, MD, RhMSUS

University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose

Session Coordinator(s)

EO

Ekemini Ogbu, MD, MSc

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

moderator(s)

SW

Stephen Wong, MD

University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital
Mercer Island, Washington, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose

There has been an increased awareness of the underlying immune aberrations of childhood neuroinflammatory conditions over the last decade. In this session, we will review the immunopathology of newer described disorders, Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES) and Isolated Central Nervous System Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis CNS (HLH) and discuss clinical applications for the pediatric rheumatologist.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the immunopathological mechanisms underlying Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES) and Isolated Central Nervous System Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (CNS HLH)
Recognize the clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria of FIRES and CNS HLH in pediatric patients
Discuss the implications of these immune aberrations for pediatric rheumatologists and how this knowledge can be applied in clinical settings to improve patient outcomes

Presentations:

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Central Time

FIRES: Immunopathology and Treatment
Speaker: Eyal Muscal, MD, MS – Baylor College of Medicine
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Central Time

Isolated Primary CNS HLH: Immunopathogenesis and Treatment Considerations
Speaker: Lauren Henderson, MD, MSc – Boston Children's Hospital