Autoimmune encephalitis

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Autoimmune encephalitis
CT scan of Rasmussen's encephalitis, a type of autoimmune encephalitis
Synonyms N/A
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Seizures, memory loss, confusion, hallucinations, movement disorders
Complications Cognitive impairment, neurological deficits
Onset Varies, can be acute or subacute
Duration Can be chronic
Types N/A
Causes Autoimmune disease
Risks Genetic predisposition, viral infections
Diagnosis Clinical evaluation, MRI, EEG, CSF analysis, antibody testing
Differential diagnosis Infectious encephalitis, paraneoplastic syndrome, primary psychiatric disorders
Prevention N/A
Treatment Immunotherapy, corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, IVIG, anticonvulsants
Medication N/A
Prognosis Variable, depends on type and response to treatment
Frequency Rare
Deaths N/A


  • Inflammation of the brain secondary to an immune response triggered by the body itself.
  • Autoimmune encephalitis refers to a group of conditions that occur when the body's ¬†mistakenly attacks healthy brain, leading to inflammation of the brain.
lymphocytic encephalitis
lymphocytic encephalitis

Causes[edit | edit source]

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

People with autoimmune encephalitis may have various neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms. Neurologic symptoms may include impaired memory and cognition, abnormal movements, and/or problems with balance, speech, or vision.

Psychiatric symptoms[edit | edit source]

  • Psychiatric symptoms may include psychosis, aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviors, panic attacks, compulsive behaviors, euphoria or fear. Symptoms may fluctuate, but often progress over days to a few weeks.
  • Symptoms can progress to loss of consciousness or even coma.
  • Autoimmune encephalitis may be associated with ¬†to ¬†on the surface of nerve cells, or within nerve cells. Some of these proteins are involved in passing signals between nerve cells.
  • In some cases it occurs in association with ¬†(a paraneoplastic syndrome).

Autoimmune encephalitis generally occurs sporadically, in people with no of the condition.

  • ==Treatment==
  • Treatment may involve intravenous immunosuppressive therapy, and ¬†removal when necessary.
  • Early treatment decreases the likelihood for long-term complications, speeds recovery, and reduces the risk of recurrence (relapse). If not treated, the condition can lead to progressive neurologic deterioration and loss of life.

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis can be made when all three of the following criteria have been met:

  1. . Subacute onset (rapid progression of less than 3 months) of working memory deficits (short-term memory loss), altered mental status, or psychiatric symptoms.
  2. . At least one of the following:
  • New focal ¬†findings
  • not explained by a previously known seizure disorder
  • CSF pleocytosis ( count of more than five ¬†per mm3)
  • features suggestive of encephalitis
  1. . Reasonable exclusion of alternative causes

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD