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A case of reversible anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: neuropsychological and neuroradiological features

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Abstract

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis mainly affecting young women. We report a case of a mild paraneoplastic anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a 31-year-old female with an ovarian immature teratoma. The patient exhibited a severe short-term episodic memory impairment and psychiatric symptoms. A detailed diagnostic work-up including complete clinical and laboratory examinations, neuropsychological assessments, and neuroradiological investigations has been done at the onset and during follow-up. The amnestic syndrome and MRI medial-temporal abnormalities reversed after medical and surgical treatment. The present report indicates that the disease can be rapidly reversible if promptly diagnosed and treated. While the disease has already been described elsewhere, the course of neurospychological deficits in adults is not as much known. Usually, when the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis is made, the severity of the disease makes the assessment of the neuropsycological profile particulary challenging. The present report is of interest because it describes the complete neuropsychological profile of a mild form of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Neurology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma (PR), Italy

    Carlotta Mutti, Giovanni Pavesi & Paolo Caffarra

  2. Alzheimer Center, Briolini Hospital, Gazzaniga, Bergamo, Italy

    Federica Barocco

  3. Department of Emergency care, General and Specialist Medical Area, AOU, Parma, Italy

    Lucia Zinno & Anna Negrotti

  4. Department of Emergency, Neurology Unit, Piacenza, Italy

    Marco Spallazzi

  5. Gruppo sostegno Alzheimer, Fidenza, Parma, Italy

    Simona Gardini

Authors
  1. Carlotta Mutti
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  2. Federica Barocco
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  3. Lucia Zinno
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  4. Anna Negrotti
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  5. Marco Spallazzi
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  6. Giovanni Pavesi
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  8. Paolo Caffarra
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Correspondence to Paolo Caffarra.

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Mutti, C., Barocco, F., Zinno, L. et al. A case of reversible anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: neuropsychological and neuroradiological features. Neurol Sci 38, 2231–2236 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3105-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3105-4

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