AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS

Course overview

AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS REFERS TO ACUTE TO SUBACUTE, PROGRESSIVE INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIBODIES AGAINST NEURONAL CELL SURFACE AND SYNAPTIC PROTEIN, MOST COMMONLY BEING ANTI - NMDA RECEPTOR ENCEPHALITIS. IT IS FREQUENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERLYING MALIGNANCY AND NEEDS APPROPRIATE SCREENING. THIS CONDITION IS USUALLY TREATMENT RESPONSIVE WITH IMMUNOTHERAPY AND HAS BETTER OUTCOMES IF INITIATED EARLY IN THE CLINICAL COURSE. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, CLINICAL PRESENTATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.