The Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Foundation Newsletter

Due to the nature of early symptoms in AE, studies have shown that patients often present first to psychiatrists or mental health facilities. Screening for the potential of autoimmune encephalitis may or may not be done, depending on awareness of the treating physicians and availability of testing.

 




Ovarian dermoid cyst and mature cystic ovarian teratoma are terms often used interchangeably to refer to the most common ovarian neoplasm. These slow-growing tumours contain elements from multiple germ cell layers and are best assessed with ultra…

 




Over the past 15 years, the field of neuroimmunology has been enriched by the discovery of a large number of new antibody-associated CNS diseases that are clinically meaningful because of their frequent response to immunotherapy, and biologically interesting because they provide models of how…

 




Anti- N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a fascinating disorder that was first described in 2007. The movie Brain on Fire is based on it.

 




Brain MRI Characteristics of Patients with Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis and Their Associations with 2-Year Clinical Outcome From…

 




One day in March 2010, Isak McCune started clearing his throat with a forceful, violent sound.The New Hampshire toddler was 3, with……

 




Autoimmune Neurology Group DCN NDCN Contacts Test results: neuro.immunology@nhs.net, paddy.waters@ndcn.ox.ac.uk Clinical enquiries: sarosh.irani@ndcn.ox.ac.uk, maria.leite@ndcn.ox.ac.uk The immune system is our body’s means of defence against harmful foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. One of its roles is to produce antibodies, which are designed to selectively destroy disease-causing agents. Occasionally, however, antibodies attack the body itself, leading to an ‘autoimmune’ condition. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disease, but can involve almost any organ. If the nervous system is affected, a variety of autoimmune neurological conditions can result. Such conditions can affect any part of the nervous system, and the part targeted by the autoantibody will reflect the symptoms. For example, the brain is affected in a condition called encephalitis, and the spinal cord can be affected in myelitis. Increasingly, the distinctive nature of the patient’s symptoms can help identify the underlying condition. In many cases the autoantibodies can be depleted with treatment such as steroids and washing the blood with plasma exchange. But many patients don’t respond well to the initial drugs, and require further medication to suppress the immune system. Patients are also often left with problems, typically involving memory, thinking or behaviour. There is a pressing need to develop new medications based on a better understanding of the conditions.   OUR TEAM PARTICIPATE IN OUR RESEARCH Donations: You can contribute to our research here. Patient recruitment: Find out about the research projects for which we are recruiting participants here. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody production from germinal center reactions: Therapeutic implications. Journal article Makuch M. et al, (2018), Ann Neurol, 83, 553 – 561 Condition-dependent generation of aquaporin-4 antibodies from circulating B cells in neuromyelitis optica. Journal article Wilson R. et al, (2018), Brain, 141, 1063 – 1074 Intracellular and non-neuronal targets of voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies. Journal article Lang B. et al, (2017), J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 88, 353 – 361 Neurexin-3α: A new antibody target in autoimmune encephalitis. Journal article Waters PJ. and Irani SR., (2016), Neurology, 86, 2222 – 2223 Brain lesion distribution criteria distinguish MS from AQP4-antibody NMOSD and MOG-antibody disease. Journal article Juryńczyk M. et al, (2017), J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 88, 132 – 136 Antibodies to Kv1 potassium channel-complex proteins leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 protein and contactin-associated protein-2 in limbic encephalitis, Morvan’s syndrome and acquired neuromyotonia. Journal article Irani SR. et al, (2010), Brain, 133, 2734 – 2748 OUR WORK We are trying to characterise the cells which produce the antibodies in patients with these diseases. This would allow us to begin to understand which medications can destroy these cells and help reduce antibody levels. We are also working to better understand the residual symptoms in patients which may respond to novel medications. Find out more about our diagnostics and research work. OUR TEAM Team members Alumni Visitors PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDING Wellcome Trust British Medical Association Epilepsy Research UK Association of British Neurologists Guarantors of Brain European Academy of Neurology UCB-Oxford Alliance Encephalitis Society Guthy-Jackson Foundation Donations NEWS AND EVENTS Patient and Public Engagement Vacancies

 




Psychiatric Annals |

A healthy 16-year-old girl presented with anxiety, personality changes, and disorganized speech. She was admitted to inpatient psychiatry for what was thought to be a possible first psychotic episode because she was also endorsing auditory hallucinations and visitations from…

 




Recent research has identified neuronal autoantibodies as possible biomarkers for predicting treatment response in schizophrenia.

 




Objectives Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a severe, but treatable disease. This study aims to give a detailed description of electroencephalogram (EEG) results in paediatric and adult patients to improve disease recognition, and analyses the predictive value of…