December NEWSLETTER
Selected Highlighted News in the field of Autoimmune
Encephalitis December 2018 1st edition
In This Issue: anti-NMDAr encephalitis patient story, Study analyzed 50 AE patients finding the correct initial diagnosis of AE is often missed or delayed, New marker identified that can show progression and severity of AE, How to Know When It’s Autoimmune Epilepsy, Amazon Smile Shopping donates 5% of your purchases to International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society.
Was This Agitation Just Part of Her Postpartum Anxiety, or Something Much More Serious?
When this young woman started feeling unwell, the ER first thought it was anxiety. Then, excited catatonia…when it was anti-NMDAr autoimmune Encephalitis.
It’s an interesting story that is too familiar to our community.
Admission diagnoses of patients later diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis
Top experts in Germany (on our Doctor’s list) retrospectively analyzed symptoms and admission diagnoses at first clinical presentation in 50 AE patients.
The challenge is the broad spectrum of initial symptoms of AE and that it mimics other conditions. Also, not all doctors have heard about it or seen a case.
Of 50 patients who eventually received a diagnosis of AE, 40 patients (80.0%), had a clinical presentation at first admission was typical for AE. Ten patients (20.0%) initially suffered from atypical symptoms. So what happened? An initial diagnosis of suspected encephalitis was only reached in 16 patients (32.0%), 9 (18.0) of which were suspected to have infectious encephalitis, and 7 (14.0%) patients were suspected to have AE. In 34 patients (68.0%), a diagnosis other than encephalitis was considered, (e.g., epilepsy, psychiatric diseases, transient ischemic attack, dementia, meningitis, and cerebellitis).
This data shows the correct initial diagnosis of AE is often missed or delayed due to the wide spectrum of symptoms. Clinicians in neurological and psychiatric hospitals should consider AE in the differential diagnosis of cases with atypical clinical presentations.
Prediction of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis and progression of autoimmune encephalitis
This article, available on-line December 2018, brings us to the attention of another marker to go by that can be positively correlated to chances of disease progression and severity of AE. Results suggest that NLR in peripheral blood may be a practical and reliable biomarker to monitor disease progression in Autoimmune Encephalitis patients. Save this paper and print it out for your next Doctor’s appointment and ask your Neurologist about your level of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.
How to Know When It’s Autoimmune Epilepsy?
Do you have a diagnosis of Autoimmune Epilepsy? Do you have AE with a high frequency of seizures?
This easy to read interview of Dr. Andrew N. Wilner interviewing Dr Batool Kirmani, medical co-director of neurosciences and medical director of the Epilepsy Center at Centra Health, Lynchburg, Virginia. Is one you will want to read. Dr Kirmani recently served as the lead author of a paper entitled “Management of Autoimmune Status Epilepticus,” which is a really hot topic.
The holidays are upon us. While you will all be busy shopping for gifts, decorations, and more, did you know your purchases can make a difference? AmazonSmile donates to International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society when you do your holiday shopping through Amazon Smiles. (Click on image to connect with AmazonSmile)
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is a Family/Patient centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey.
Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles. Raising awareness of Autoimmune Encephalitis across the many specialties of medicine that come in contact with these disorders and with the general public to ensure a timely and accurate diagnosis resulting in an aggressive treatment plan for best outcomes.
“Empowering victims of Autoimmune Encephalitis and their caregivers through Support and Education”.
