Our team has the expertise to accurately diagnose and treat autoimmune encephalitis, a group of serious conditions in which the immune system attacks the brain.

You’ll find:

• Highly trained experts who understand the many signs and symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis.
• Advanced technology to test for the disease, and providers with deep experience analyzing the results.
• A team of specialists who understand this complex disease so they can give you the best possible treatment.

What is autoimmune encephalitis?

Autoimmune encephalitis is a collection of related conditions in which the body’s immune system attacks the brain, causing inflammation. The immune system produces substances called antibodies that mistakenly attack brain cells.

Like multiple sclerosis, the disease can be progressive (worsening over time) or relapsing-remitting (with alternating flare-ups and periods of recovery). Autoimmune encephalitis has many subtypes that depends on the antibodies present.

Left untreated, autoimmune encephalitis can quickly become serious. It may lead to coma or permanent brain injury. In rare cases, it can be fatal.

Who gets autoimmune encephalitis?

Autoimmune encephalitis was once considered rare, but doctors are finding more cases as their ability to diagnose it improves. A 2018 study found 13.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Factors that affect risk include:

• Gender: This illness, like many autoimmune diseases, affects women more often than men.
• Age: It can happen at any age but is diagnosed most often in young women.
• Family history: It does not appear to run in families.
• Race/ethnicity: It may be much more common among Black people, according to the 2018 study, but more research is needed.

What causes autoimmune encephalitis?

In many cases, the cause of autoimmune encephalitis is unknown. But experts say it can be caused by:

• Exposure to certain bacteria and viruses, including streptococcus and herpes simplex virus.
• A type of tumor called a teratoma, generally in the ovaries, that causes the immune system to produce specific antibodies.
• Rarely, some cancers that can trigger an autoimmune response (when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues).

Types of autoimmune encephalitis

Types include:

• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
• Anti-NMDAR receptor encephalitis
• Hashimoto’s encephalopathy
• LG11/CASPR2-antibody encephalitis
• Limbic encephalitis
• Rasmussen’s encephalitis

Symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis

Symptoms may come on over a period of days or weeks. They can also vary depending on the type of autoimmune encephalitis.

The early phase of the disease may include flu-like symptoms, such as headache, fever, nausea and muscle pain. Psychiatric symptoms may appear, disappear and reappear. Later symptoms may be more severe, such as a lower level of consciousness and possible coma.

Common symptoms include:

• Impaired memory and understanding
• Unusual and involuntary movements
• Involuntary movements of the face (facial dyskinesia)
• Difficulty with balance, speech or vision
• Insomnia
• Weakness or numbness
• Seizures
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks
• Compulsive behaviors
• Altered sexual behaviors
• Behavior changes such as agitation, fear or euphoria
• Loss of inhibition
• Hallucinations
• Paranoid thoughts
• Loss of consciousness or coma

Treatment for autoimmune encephalitis

Early treatment can greatly reduce symptoms and reduce the chances of long-term complications.

Treatments may include:

• Surgery to remove a teratoma.
• Steroids to reduce brain inflammation and the immune system’s response.
• Plasma exchange (removal and replacement of the liquid part of the blood) to take out harmful antibodies.
• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), given in an IV drip, to introduce antibodies from the plasma of healthy donors. IVIG removes harmful antibodies and reduces inflammation.
• Immunosuppressant medications, if other treatments are not effective.

Learn more

• OHSU research on MS and related disorders
• Autoimmune Encephalitis, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
• International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society
• Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance