What should you know about limbic encephalitis?

• Author(s): Machado, S ; Pinto, A ; Irani, S
• Date: 2012
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.10/831
• Origin: Repositório do Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca
• Subject(s): Autoimmune encephalitis; Encephalopathy
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

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.