What should you know about limbic encephalitis?

• Autor(es): Machado, S ; Pinto, A ; Irani, S
• Data: 2012
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.10/831
• Origem: Repositório do Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca
• Assunto(s): Autoimmune encephalitis; Encephalopathy
• Tipo de Documento: Artigo
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

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.