A case of Hashimoto encephalopathy: clinical manifestation, imaging, pathology, treatment, and prognosis

Neurologist. 2011 May;17(3):141-3. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e3182173341.

Abstract

Introduction: Hashimoto encephalopathy is a rare encephalopathy with positive antithyroid antibodies and normal thyroid function. We describe the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging, and histopathologic changes in a 52-year-old female with Hashimoto encephalopathy.

Results: The neuroimaging changes are multifocal abnormalities in cortical and subcortical areas bilaterally not enhanced by gadolinium. After high doses of corticosteroid therapy, the changes rapidly disappeared with marked improvement of clinical symptoms.

Conclusions: This case shows the importance of assessment of antithyroid antibodies in patients with rapidly progressive cognitive dysfunction with/without the history of abnormality of thyroid function.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / physiopathology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Encephalitis
  • Female
  • Hashimoto Disease / diagnosis
  • Hashimoto Disease / drug therapy
  • Hashimoto Disease / pathology
  • Hashimoto Disease / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Autoantibodies

Supplementary concepts

  • Hashimoto's encephalitis