title: Extensive myelitis associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encephalitis with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies (anti-NMDAR-Ab) is a rapid-onset encephalitis including psychosis, seizures, various movement disorders and autonomic system disturbances.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a very unusual case of extensive myelitis associated with anti-NMDAR-Ab. MRI also revealed a hyperintense T2 lesion, non-suggestive of MS, which progressively extended, associated with periventricular gadolinium enhancement visualized on brain MRI. Ophthalmological evaluation showed subclinical right optic neuritis. The absence of anti-AQP4 antibody argued against neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. A slight psychomotor slowing prompted us to search for various causes of autoimmune encephalitis. Anti-NMDAR-Ab was found in cerebrospinal fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with extensive myelitis who are seronegative for anti-AQP4 antibodies, and after other classical causes have been excluded, the hypothesis of atypical anti-NMDAR-Ab encephalitis should also be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France. olivier.outteryck@chru-lille.fr.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Outteryck
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baille
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodel
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacour
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honnorat
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zéphir
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vermersch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009187:Myelitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000276:immunology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate