Anti-LGI1 Autoimmune Encephalitis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis and MGUS

Anti-leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 limbic encephalitis (anti-LGI1 LE) is one of the most frequent autoimmune encephalitis, commonly coexisting with other autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) are commonly associated with autoimmune phenomena. However, neither RA nor MGUS have been described in the literature to date as coexisting with anti-LGI1 LE.

We present the case of anti-LGI1 LE in a male patient with rheumatoid arthritis, who was also found to have an MGUS. The patient was initially treated with corticosteroids and IV immunoglobulin. After a mild relapse, his treatment was complemented with rituximab, resulting in complete regression of the disease symptoms.

Our report provides evidence for the coexistence of anti-LGI1 LE with RA and/or MGUS, thus extending the differential diagnosis of patients suffering with these disease entities that present with neuropsychiatric symptoms suggestive of encephalitis. Moreover, this case raises challenges on the management of the coexistence of these diseases, given the lack of therapeutic guidelines and their potential interaction on a pathophysiological and a clinical level.

In a patient with known autoimmune or malignant background who presents with neuropsychiatric symptoms, after excluding infectious encephalitis or central nervous system involvement in the primary disease condition, autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE) should also be considered.In a patient diagnosed with anti-LGI1 LE there should be an extensive check for coexisting occult pre-malignant conditions, even for months after disease presentation.Clinical management and treatment options of anti-LGI1 LE when coexisting with other autoimmune or pre-malignant conditions can be challenging; thus, more research is needed towards that direction.