Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: Early Treatment is Beneficial

Breese, Erin H.; Dalmau, Joseph; Lennon, Vanda A.; Apiwattanakul, Metha; Sokol, Deborah K.

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2009.10.003

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 42, Issue 3 , Pages 213-214, March 2010

Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: Early Treatment is Beneficial

Erin H. Breese, MD, PhD
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Joseph Dalmau, MD, PhD
- Division of Neuro-oncology, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vanda A. Lennon, MD, PhD
- Departments of Neurology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Metha Apiwattanakul, MD
- Departments of Neurology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Deborah K. Sokol, PhD, MD
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Sokol; Riley Hospital for Children; Department of Neurology XE40; Indiana University School of Medicine; 575 West Drive; Indianapolis, IN, 46202.

Received 20 July 2009; accepted 12 October 2009.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody has been associated with a severe stereotypic form of subacute encephalitis, often found in women with ovarian teratoma. Reported here is the diagnosis of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis in a 5-year-old girl who presented with subacute encephalopathy and movement disorder without evidence of malignancy. Early diagnosis and treatment with immune globulin and steroids resulted in near-complete recovery.