Observations placeholder
Psychosis from Encephalitis
Identifier
006951
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
From Wikipedia
"Anti-NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptor encephalitis is an acute form of encephalitis which is potentially lethal but has high probability for recovery. The condition is associated with tumours, mostly teratomas of the ovaries. However, there are a substantial number of cases with no detectable cancerous tissue. The body is appearing to make antibodies against viruses attacking the reproductive organs, but the antibodies from the blood cross a pathologically disrupted blood-brain barrier . This cellular filter, separating the central nervous system from the circulatory system, normally prevents larger molecules from entering the brain. A variety of reasons for such a collapse in integrity have been suggested, with the most likely answer being the effects of acute inflammation of the nervous system. Likewise, the involvement of corticotropin releasing hormone on mast cells in acute stress has been shown to facilitate BBB penetration. However, it is also possible that the autonomic dysfunction manifested in many patients during the later phases of the condition aids antibody entry. For example, an increase in blood pressure would force larger proteins, such as antibodies, to extravasate into the CSF."
A description of the experience
Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Apr;54(7):899-904. doi: 10.1093/cid/cir1038. Epub 2012 Jan 26. The frequency of autoimmune N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis surpasses that of individual viral etiologies in young individuals enrolled in the California Encephalitis Project. Gable MS1, Sheriff H, Dalmau J, Tilley DH, Glaser CA. Communicable Disease and Emergency Response Branch, Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA. ms2gable@yahoo.com
BACKGROUND: In 2007, the California Encephalitis Project (CEP), which was established to study the epidemiology of encephalitis, began identifying cases of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis. Increasing numbers of anti-NMDAR encephalitis cases have been identified at the CEP, and this form rivals commonly known viral etiologies as a causal agent. We report here the relative frequency and differences among encephalitides caused by anti-NMDAR and viral etiologies within the CEP experience.
METHODS: Demographic, frequency, and clinical data from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis are compared with those with viral encephalitic agents: enterovirus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and West Nile virus (WNV). All examined cases presented to the CEP between September 2007 and February 2011 and are limited to individuals aged ≤30 years because of the predominance of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in this group. The diagnostic costs incurred in a single case are also included.
RESULTS: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis was identified >4 times as frequently as HSV-1, WNV, or VZV and was the leading entity identified in our cohort. We found that 65% of anti-NMDAR encephalitis occurred in patients aged ≤18 years. This disorder demonstrated a predilection, which was not observed with viral etiologies, for females (P < .01). Seizures, language dysfunction, psychosis, and electroencephalographic abnormalities were significantly more frequent in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis (P < .05), and autonomic instability occurred exclusively in this group.
DISCUSSION: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis rivals viral etiologies as a cause of encephalitis within the CEP cohort. This entity deserves a prominent place on the encephalitic differential diagnosis to avoid unnecessary diagnostic and treatment costs, and to permit a more timely treatment.
PMID: 22281844
The source of the experience
PubMedConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
EncephalitisHerpes simplex
Reproductive system disease
Stress
Varicella Zoster Virus
Viral infection