Hashimoto encephalopathy

This review highlights the current state of knowledge about Hashimoto encephalopathy, and progress in the diagnosis and treatment in Hashimoto encephalopathy. Non ‐specific neurological symptoms, laboratory findings and neuroimaging of Hashimoto encephalopathy make its diagnosis an oversight and difficult, whereas antibodies against NH2‐terminal of alpha‐enolase can be useful as a diagnostic biomarker for Hashimoto encephalopathy. AbstractHashimoto encephalopathy (HE) is an autoimmune encephalopathy associated with autoimmune chronic thyroiditis. The clinical entity and nosology of HE have long been debated. Recently, new autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis have been discovered. With accumulated reported cases, and our discovery of serum autoantibody against NH2‐terminal of alpha‐enolase as a specific diagnostic marker, HE has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity. The condition appears dominant in females. The clinical features of HE are characterized by various neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as altered consciousness, psychosis and seizures, the presence of serum anti‐thyroid antibodies, normal or non‐specific changes in brain magnetic resonance imaging, diffuse slow wave activities in electroencephalogram and responsiveness to immunotherapy. A few pathological studies showed a lymphocytic infiltration of the small and medium‐size d vessels of the brain, which suggested vasculitis. Non‐specific neurological symptoms, laboratory f...

Source: Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology - September 18, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Akiko Matsunaga, Masamichi Ikawa, Makoto Yoneda Tags: Review Article Source Type: research