Autoimmune Encephalitis
The Autoimmune Neurology Clinic provides care for patients with various autoimmune diseases including autoimmune encephalitis (AE), paraneoplastic disorders and neurosarcoidosis. Some of these disorders can have involvement of both central and peripheral nervous system.
Autoimmune encephalitis
An autoimmune condition in which patient’s immune system makes antibodies that attack different brain proteins, causing a spectrum of symptoms, which typically progress over several weeks to several months. AE may be triggered by infection, and many cases have no apparent cause. When autoimmune encephalitis is associated with an underlying cancer, it is called paraneoplastic encephalitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms depends on what part of the brain is affected. Common symptoms may include confusion, cognitive impairment, personality changes, unusual behavior, seizures and involuntary movements
Diagnosis
Diagnostic testing may include blood tests, MRI imaging, electroencephalogram and cognitive evaluation
Treatment
Autoimmune encephalitis can be a severe disease if left untreated. Most patients recover with rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In cases of paraneoplastic encephalitis, it is critical to find and treat the underlying cancer as appropriate.
Meet Our Physicians
The Clinics for Autoimmune encephalitis are run by neuroimmunologists Dr. J. William Lindsey, Dr. Rajesh Gupta and Dr. John Lincoln.
- Dr. Lindsey is the division director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology division and has extensive experience and expertise in management of inflammatory conditions involving central nervous system.
- Dr. Lincoln is the director of MRI analysis center and has expertise in management of neuroinflammatory conditions involving central nervous system.
- Dr. Gupta leads the Autoimmune Neurology Clinic and is an active member of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance Clinicians Network . He is dual fellowship trained in autoimmune neurology and neuromuscular disorder. He has expertise in diagnosing and treating both central and peripheral manifestations of inflammatory disorders including autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic encephalitis, stiff person syndrome, neurosarcoidosis and neuromuscular disorders of autoimmune etiology.