Biphasic paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis associated with anti-Ri antibody.
Brainstem encephalitis is not a classic paraneoplastic syndrome and usually involves monophasic neurological deterioration and has negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. We describe a patient with brainstem encephalitis who had elevated anti-Ri antibody levels and double-step neurological deterioration associated with different abnormal lesions on MRI. Immunosuppression with steroids and intravenous immune globulin combined with aggressive treatment of the tumor successfully led to the resolution of brainstem symptoms and MRI lesions. In patients with unusual signs and symptoms of paraneoplastic encephalitis mimicking multiple sclerosis, onconeural antibody studies are recommended.
Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522, Japan.
Kin
K
Tesseki
Hiroshi
H
Kataoka
Mari
M
Terashima
Makoto
M
Kawahara
Toshiaki
T
Taoka
Keiko
K
Tanaka
Satoshi
S
Ueno
D000368:Aged; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000090682:Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000090682:Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins