Research Article

[18F]-Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography Scan Should Be Obtained Early in Cases of Autoimmune Encephalitis

Table 1

Patient characteristics.

PatientSexAge (years)Clinical featuresCancerAntibody monitoring (days)VGKC titers (nmol/L)NMDA serologySymptom onset to diagnosis (days)CSF WBC (cells/mm3)CSF protein (mg/dL)TreatmentMax number of AEDs

1F91Altered mental statusNoInitial0.13NA8357NoneNone

2M59Autonomic seizureNoInitial
54
161
273
1.58
4.22
15.8
1.94
NA94140IVMP × 5 days, PLEX × 5 days3

3F52Altered mental status, depressionNoInitial0.13NA178NA69IVMP × 5 days, IVIG × 5 days2

4F 35Flu-like symptoms, complex partial seizure, hyponatremia, elevated microsomal and thyroglobulin antibodiesNoInitial
 24
2.8
0.77
NA 54 234IVIG × 3 days, IVMP × 3 days, PLEX × 5 days5

5M54Altered mental status, hyponatremia, gelastic seizureNoInitial3.89NA1851247IVMP × 5 days, PLEX × 5 days4

6M84Altered mental status, hyponatremia, tonic seizureNoInitial0.13NA177248IVMP × 5 days, PLEX × 3 days/week for 2 weeks2

7M22PsychosisNoInitial
56
NAPositive
Positive
196423IVMP × 5, PLEX × 10 d, IVIG × 5, cyclophosphamide, prednisone 5 qd 5 

Average:56.751.63.5102.112.045.4

VGKC, voltage-gated potassium channel antibody; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; IVMP, 1 gram of intravenous methylprednisolone; IVIG = 0.4 g/kg/d of intravenous immunoglobulin; PLEX, plasma exchange; F, female; M, male; NA, not applicable.