Autoimmune encephalitis associated with Ma2 antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Autoimmune encephalitis associated with Ma2 antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Pract Neurol. 2020 Apr 17;: Authors: Lyons S, Joyce R, Moynagh P, O'Donnell L, Blazkova S, Counihan TJ Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the treatment of advanced malignancy, while increasing the risk of immune-related adverse events. A 56-year-old woman who had received nivolumab for stage 4 renal cell carcinoma subsequently developed altered behaviour, memory deficits and worsening of previously stable epilepsy. MR scan of the brain showed bilateral FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensity of the mesial temporal lobes, and there were anti-Ma2 antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid. She was treated with corticosteroids but developed further clinical relapses requiring immunoglobulin and rituximab. The immune-related adverse events relating to immune checkpoint inhibitors are an emerging challenge for the neurologist. Some cases are refractory and require serial immunosuppression. PMID: 32303632 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Practical Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Pract Neurol Source Type: research