Unusual seizures, many girls discovered to have autoimmune encephalitis

A patient with NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis was admitted to Cho Ray Hospital in a coma and convulsions. The average treatment cost was 1 billion VND/case.

On July 2, information from Cho Ray Hospital stated that in the past 18 months, the hospital has recorded 17 patients with NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis. Notably, 13 cases were female with an average age of 23 years old, half of whom had ovarian teratoma. Most of the patients were hospitalized in a coma, with convulsions and on ventilators, and 4 cases died.

According to Dr. Le Quoc Hung, Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases, Cho Ray Hospital, the youngest case is a 17-year-old female student in Dong Nai. The family said that the female student had a dermoid tumor in her ovary, and before surgery, abnormal signs such as incoherent speech, convulsions, and coma appeared. After treatment locally, the patient was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital.

Dr. Le Quoc Hung, Head of Tropical Diseases Department, Cho Ray Hospital, informed about the case

Here, blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests confirmed that the girl had NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis, suspected to be caused by an ovarian teratoma releasing antibodies. The team performed plasma exchange treatment and IvIg infusion. Cho Ray Hospital coordinated with Hung Vuong Hospital to perform surgery on the tumor in both ovaries to address the cause of the disease, while also making efforts to preserve the patient's fertility. The current cost of treatment is more than 1.2 billion VND.

According to Dr. Huynh Thi Thuy Mai, Head of the Postpartum Department, Hung Vuong Hospital, more than 90% of ovarian teratoma cases are benign. The problem of ovarian teratoma producing antibodies that cause autoimmune encephalitis is very rare and has not received much attention. In the near future, Hung Vuong Hospital will coordinate with Cho Ray Hospital to conduct research to have an accurate assessment. Doctors are also considering whether it is necessary to screen for NMDA antibodies in patients with ovarian teratoma, in order to prevent and detect autoimmune encephalitis early.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/co-giat-bat-thuong-nhieu-co-gai-phat-hien-mac-benh-viem-nao-tu-mien-post747381.html