Article Text
Abstract
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a well-recognised immunotherapy-responsive condition which often occurs as a paraneoplastic phenomenon. A typical presentation is in a young individual with a viral-like prodrome followed by the development of severe psychiatric symptoms, memory loss, seizures, reduced consciousness and sometimes orofacial dyskinesias, and progression to autonomic and respiratory instability. Fulminant meningitis is a very rare presenting feature of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with our literature search only revealing one other reported case.
We present a case of a 33-year old Caucasian woman who initially presented with lymphocytic meningitis but subsequently developed clinical and investigative features consistent with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Through this case, we aim to present and discuss possible mechanisms1–3 underlying this atypical presentation and to highlight frank meningitis as an atypical presenting feature of anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis. Clinicians should consider autoimmune encephalitides in individuals with meningitis, particularly where extensive investigations fail to identify a causative micro-organism and there is rapid development of an encephalitic phenotype. A multidisciplinary approach is required to address the neurological, gynaecological, oncological, and neuropsychiatric aspects of this challenging and incompletely understood disorder.
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