Non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis

Autoimmune-mediated encephalitis may occur as a paraneoplastic or as a nonparaneoplastic condition. The role of neuroimaging in autoimmune-mediated encephalitis has changed in the last decade partly due to improvements in sequence optimisation and higher field strength and partly due to the discovery of an increasing number of antibodies to neuronal cell and cell membrane antigens. Imaging is important since it can support the clinical diagnosis particularly in the absence of antibodies. Structural imaging findings can be subtle and are usually best seen on FLAIR images. A progressive as well as a relapsing-remitting course can be observed. Autoimmune-mediated encephalitis is classically linked to involvement of the hippocampus and amygdala, but extensive changes in the temporal cortex, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, brain stem, frontal and parietal cortex are not unusual. This report is based on a review of the literature (except the literature in Japanese) and own findings in patients with autoimmune-mediated encephalitis. Source: MEDLINE Full Text: Available in fulltext at ULHT journal article requests. Complete the online form to obtain articles. 2. Limbic encephalitis presenting as a post-partum psychiatric condition Author(s): Gotkine M., Ben-Hur T., Vincent A., Vaknin-Dembinsky A. Citation: Journal of the Neurological Sciences, September 2011, vol./is. 308/1-2(152-154), 0022-510X;1878-5883 (15 Sep 2011) Publication Date: September 2011 Abstract: Objective: We describe a woman who presented with a psychiatric disorder post-partum and subsequently developed seizures and cognitive dysfunction prompting further investigation. A diagnosis of limbic encephalitis (LE) was made and antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) detected. These antibodies are found in many non-paraneoplastic patients with LE. Although antibody-mediated conditions tend to present or relapse post-partum, VGKC-LE in the post-partum period has not been described. Design: Case report. Results: Clinical and imaging data were consistent with limbic encephalitis. High titres of anti-VGKC-complex antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of VGKC-LE. Conclusion: The similarities between the psychiatric symptomatology of VGKCLE and post-partum psychiatric disorders raise the possibility that some instances of postpartum psychiatric conditions are manifestations of immune-mediated, non-paraneoplastic LE. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Source: EMBASE Objective: We describe a woman who presented with a psychiatric disorder post-partum and subsequently developed seizures and cognitive dysfunction prompting further investigation. A diagnosis of limbic encephalitis (LE) was made and antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) detected. These antibodies are found in many non-paraneoplastic patients with LE. Although antibody-mediated conditions tend to present or relapse post-partum, VGKC-LE in the post-partum period has not been described. Design: Case report. Results: Clinical and imaging data were consistent with limbic encephalitis. High titres of anti-VGKC-complex antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of VGKC-LE. Conclusion: The similarities between the psychiatric symptomatology of VGKCLE and post-partum psychiatric disorders raise the possibility that some instances of postpartum psychiatric conditions are manifestations of immune-mediated, non-paraneoplastic LE. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Source: EMBASE Full Text: Available in fulltext at ULHT journal article requests. Complete the online form to obtain articles. 3. Non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase. Long-term treatment with plasma exchange and steroids Author(s): Markakis I., Alexopoulos H., Katsiva V., Lyrakos G., Gkekas G., Dalakas M. Citation: European Journal of Neurology, September 2011, vol./is. 18/(578), 1351-5101 (September 2011)