title: Anti-NMDA encephalitis: an uncommon, autoimmune mediated form of encephalitis.
abstract: We report an interesting case of a 19 year old female with findings on MRI suggestive of viral encephalitis. An extensive workup was negative for infectious causes and she was subsequently diagnosed with anti-NMDA encephalitis. Anti-NMDA encephalitis is a highly lethal but treatable form of autoimmune encephalitis that has recently been characterized. It is frequently found in young women and associated with an underlying teratoma. Although rare, this diagnosis should be considered in young females for whom a rapid onset of encephalitis cannot be explained by more common causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Avetis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Albrektson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Marcel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Barry D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Pressman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moser
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D016202:N-Methylaspartate
keywords: Anti-NMDA; MRI; NMDA receptor; encephalitis; teratoma