Thymoma-associated autoimmune encephalitis with positive Titin antibodies: A case report

We report a case of thymoma-associated autoimmune encephalitis with positive Titin antibodies. The patient had cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms and symptomatic epilepsy. PET-CT indicated space-occupied lesion at the thoracic entrance. The patient was diagnosed with paraneoplastic autoimmune encephalitis. After immunotherapy, his condition improved and underwent thymectomy. Pathology revealed type A thymoma. The patient recurred 10 days after the operation. Thymoma is associated with AE. And Titin antibodies may be involved in the extensive immune response to antigens which the patient's thymoma ectopically expressed. This case reflects the complexity of the immune relationship among autoimmune encephalitis, Titin antibodises and thymoma. Titin antibody may have a certain guiding significance for the treatment and prognosis of autoimmune encephalitis.