N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor-Negative Autoimmune Encephalitis in a Patient With an Ovarian Teratoma and an Associated Novel Cerebrospinal Fluid Autoantibody.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jason M Lucas, Emory University; Munir Chaudhuri, Emory University; Mona Chandra, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; Michael Silver, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-07
• Publisher: Cureus
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021, Chaudhuri et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.16334
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Cureus
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: e16334
• End Page: e16334
• Keywords: anti-nmda receptor encephalitis; seizure; adult teratoma; autoantibodies; unexpected malignancy; autoimmune encephalitis; paraneoplastic encephalitis syndromes
• Research Categories: Psychology, General

Abstract

Autoimmune encephalitis is most commonly caused by autoantibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and the malignancy most often associated with anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis is an ovarian teratoma. Here, we describe a case of autoimmune encephalitis caused by a newly discovered cerebrospinal fluid autoantibody that has not been previously described and is not anti-NMDA receptor-mediated, which has been associated with an ovarian teratoma. It was successfully treated with high-dose corticosteroids and plasmapheresis followed by rituximab and chemotherapy (paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin) for her teratoma.