title: NMDA receptor encephalitis and other antibody-mediated disorders of the synapse: The 2016 Cotzias Lecture.
abstract: Investigations during the last 10 years have revealed a group of disorders mediated by antibodies against ion channels and synaptic receptors, which cause both neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. In this review, I discuss the process of discovery and immunologic triggers of these disorders, and use anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis to emphasize the importance of understanding the underlying physiopathologic mechanisms in those diseases. A better knowledge of these mechanisms reveals points of convergence with other disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), suggests treatment strategies beyond immunotherapy, and is helping us understand how memories are formed and retrieved.
authors.affiliation: From the Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona; Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Jdalmau@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalmau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060426:Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013569:Synapses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies