What should you know about limbic encephalitis?
Autoimmune encephalitis is an inflammatory disorder characterized by a subacute impairment of short-term memory, psychiatric features and seizures. It is often associated with a variety of other neurological symptoms, and its differential diagnosis is wide, leading to challenges in its recognition. It used to be regarded as a rare disease, usually paraneoplastic and with poor prognosis. However, with the recent recognition of membrane-surface directed antibodies, it is now known that in a substantial proportion of cases there is no association with any malignancy and there is a good prognosis if treated. Hence, early recognition and prompt initiation of immunotherapies are of great importance.
Neurology Department, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal. s.jose.11@ucl.ac.uk
Sara
S
Machado
Amélia Nogueira
AN
Pinto
Sarosh R
SR
Irani
D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D020363:Limbic Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis