Limbic encephalitis - a review.

P A Barber, N E Anderson

Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 2008;15(9):961-71

PMID: 18411052

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Abstract

The clinical features of limbic encephalitis are diverse and early diagnosis of the disorder is frequently difficult. Four patients with limbic encephalitis are described. An antineuronal antibody was identified in three of these patients. Antibodies directed against voltage-gated potassium channels, the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and an unidentified neuropil antigen were each found in one patient. The fourth patient had multifocal paraneoplastic encephalitis associated with small cell lung cancer. The clinical and imaging findings associated with these antibodies and the other antineuronal antibodies described in patients with limbic encephalitis are reviewed. An approach to the diagnosis and management of limbic encephalitis is presented.

Address: Neurology Department, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland, New Zealand. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2007.12.003

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Aged, Amnesia, Anterograde, Autoantibodies, Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Differential, Fatal Outcome, Humans, Limbic Encephalitis, Limbic System, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate