[Autoimmune encephalitis]

Autoimmune encephalitis is an important, treatable subtype of acute encephalitis where autoantibodies target intra- or extracellular neural antigens. Despite research advances, diagnosis is often delayed or incorrect, which affects outcome negatively. We summarise clinical features of the most common autoantibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis subtypes and focus on classification, current diagnostic challenges using commercially available diagnostic assays, in an attempt to increase awareness.