DISEASES
description
Limbic encephalitis is a form of brain inflammation caused by an autoimmune attack where the body produces antibodies against itself. Some cases are associated with cancer and some (particularly in children and younger individuals) are not. Although the disease is called “limbic” encephalitis, it is seldom limited to the limbic system.
Limbic encephalitis is broadly grouped into two types: paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (associated with a tumor) and non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. In cases associated with a tumor, recovery can only follow complete removal of the tumor, which is not always possible. Limbic encephalitis is classified according to the autoantibody associated with the disease. The most common types are:
Anti-Hu (associated with small-cell carcinoma of the lungs).
Anti-Ma2 (associated with germ-cell tumours of the testis).
Anti-NMDAR (associated with tumors of the ovaries, commonly teratomas; but is also seen in individuals without any detectable tumors).
Symptoms
- Severe impairment of short-term memory, with most patients having difficulties in recall
- Epileptic seizures are common and may occur prior to symptoms of memory loss
- Anterograde amnesia (the inability to store new memories after the onset of the condition)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Personality change
- Acute confusional state
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Obsessiveness
- Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature)
- Weight change
- Sleep disturbances
- Endocrine dysfunction
- Aphasia
- Apraxia