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Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a well-defined autoimmune disorder. Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a still controversial entity, lacking definite diagnostic criteria. We described a 14-year-old-girl presenting with a clinical picture consistent with the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, confirmed by NMDAR antibody testing. Four years earlier, she had presented a similar episode of acute encephalopathy diagnosed as HE. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis and HE share similar clinical features so that the differential diagnosis can be difficult if specific antibodies are not tested. The correct diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis is crucial to plan the appropriate management and follow-up, namely in term of oncological screening, since it can be paraneoplastic in origin. We suggest to re-evaluate the clinical history of all subjects with previous HE diagnosis in order to evaluate the possible diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and plan the appropriate management of these patients.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ejpn.2013.07.002

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Paediatr Neurol

Publication Date

01/2014

Volume

18

Pages

72 - 74

Keywords

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, Epilepsy, Hashimoto encephalopathy, Neuronal surface antibodies, Paraneoplastic, Adolescent, Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis, Brain Diseases, Diagnostic Errors, Electroencephalography, Encephalitis, Female, Hashimoto Disease, Humans, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous, Immunologic Factors, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Treatment Outcome