Autoimmune encephalitis and its relation to infection.
Arun Venkatesan1, David R Benavides
1Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Meyer 6-113, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA, avenkat2@jhmi.edu.
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|February 1, 2015
Summary
Autoimmune encephalitis, particularly anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, is increasingly recognized. Infections like herpes virus may trigger this brain inflammation, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Encephalitis is a serious brain inflammation with diverse causes.
- Autoimmune conditions are increasingly identified as significant contributors to encephalitis.
- Early diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis is crucial for effective immunosuppressive therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging concepts in central nervous system autoimmunity.
- To explore clinical and mechanistic links between autoimmune encephalitis and infections.
- To specifically examine anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and its association with herpes simplex virus.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent findings in autoimmune encephalitis.
- Analysis of clinical observations and mechanistic studies.
- Focus on antibody-mediated encephalitis and infectious triggers.
Main Results:
- Autoimmune etiologies are a significant cause of encephalitis.
- Herpes virus infection is a potential trigger for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
- Conditions like Rasmussen's encephalitis and FIRES may also have infectious triggers.
Conclusions:
- There is a growing understanding of the interplay between infections and autoimmune encephalitis.
- Prompt identification of autoimmune encephalitis is vital for patient outcomes.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking infections and CNS autoimmunity.
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