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The autoimmune encephalopathies are a group of conditions that are associated with autoantibodies against surface neuronal proteins, which are likely to mediate the disease. They are established as a frequent cause of encephalitis. Characteristic clinical features in individual patients often allow the specificity of the underlying antibody to be confidently predicted. Antibodies against the VGKC-complex, mainly LGI1(leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1), CASPR2 (contactin-associated protein 2), and contactin-2, and NMDA (N-methyl, D-aspartate) -receptor are the most frequently established serological associations. In the minority of cases, an underlying tumour can be responsible. Early administration of immunotherapies, and tumour removal, where it is relevant, offer the greatest chance of improvement. Prolonged courses of immunotherapies may be required, and clinical improvements often correlate well with the antibody levels. In the present article, we have summarised recent developments in the clinical and laboratory findings within this rapidly expanding field.

Original publication

DOI

10.1590/s0004-282x2012000400015

Type

Journal article

Journal

Arq Neuropsiquiatr

Publication Date

04/2012

Volume

70

Pages

300 - 304

Keywords

Autoantibodies, Autoimmune Diseases, Contactin 2, Encephalitis, Humans, Immunotherapy, Membrane Proteins, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Proteins, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate