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Updated: May 23, 2026

Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis
Published on: June 2, 2022
[Autoimmune limbic encephalitis: importance of early diagnosis and treatment]
Judith van Vliet1, Jan Meulstee, Erwin G T M Hartong
1Canisius-Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis, Afd. Neurologie, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. j.v.vliet@cwz.nl
Background:
Autoimmune limbic encephalitis is a rare disorder, characterised by the subacute onset of seizures, short-term memory loss, and psychiatric and behavioural symptoms. Initially, it was recognised as a paraneoplastic disorder, but recently a subgroup of patients without systemic cancer was identified. This type of limbic encephalitis is associated with voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies.
Case Description:
We describe a 69-year-old man with anti-VGKC limbic encephalitis suffering from generalised tonic-clonic seizures, severe insomnia, increasing memory deficits, visual hallucinations and depression. We also describe a 22-year-old woman, suffering from complex partial seizures and dysphasia, and displaying inappropriate behaviour. She was diagnosed with anti-NMDAR limbic encephalitis. Both showed marked improvement after starting prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
Conclusion:
These case descriptions emphasise the importance of timely recognition of autoimmune limbic encephalitis in order to rule out malignancy and to quickly initiate treatment. This potentially life-threatening disease responds well to immunomodulatory therapy.
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