Dement Neurocogn Disord.  2014 Sep;13(3):79-82. 10.12779/dnd.2014.13.3.79.

Non-paraneoplastic Autoantibody-negative Limbic Encephalitis Characterized by Mild Memory Impairment: A Case Report

• Han S
• Joo J
• Kang J
• Ha SW
• Yang Y

• KMID: 1727689
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2014.13.3.79

Abstract

Encephalitis that primarily involves limbic system structures such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus has been described in early papers, most commonly characterized by a subacute progressive impairment of short-term memory, psychiatric features and seizures. While these findings might be caused by viral infections or systemic autoimmune disorders, many patients with limbic encephalitis have an immune-mediated etiology (paraneoplastic or not) characterized with serum or CSF antineuronal antibodies. This case reports about non-paraneoplastic autoantibody-negative limbic encephalitis in which there are no detection of antigens and no evidence of tumors.

Keyword

Limbic encephalitis; Memory impairment; Non-paraneoplastic; Autoantibody negative

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Encephalitis
Hippocampus
Humans
Limbic Encephalitis*
Limbic System
Memory*
Memory, Short-Term
Parahippocampal Gyrus
Seizures
Antibodies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Axial brain MR T2-weighted image (T2WI) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image show increased signal intensity in both medial temporal lobe (A, C). T1-weighted image (T1WI), Gadolium (Gd)-eahauced T1-weighted MRI and DWI study shows no hyperintensity on bilateral temporal lobes with isointensities on ADC map (B, D, E, F).

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  Fig. 2 Brain FDG PET shows increased FDG uptake in the both medial temporal lobes, which is much worse on the left side.

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  Fig. 3 EEG monitoring shows no epileptiform discharge.

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  Fig. 4 Follow-up MRI after 2 weaks. FLAIR image shows some improvement compared to the previous study.

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