Autoimmune limbic encephalitis: When psychiatric symptoms are not what they seem

Abstract

IntroductionThe autoimmune (AI) limbic encephalitis (LE) can manifests as changes in neuropsychiatric functions and can even occur with isolated psychiatric symptoms. Many times it is a manifestation of paraneoplastic syndromes and it is lately diagnosed.ObjectivesOur objective is to increase awareness to this pathology, since initial contact with these patients is often performed by a psychiatrist and its early detection and treatment greatly improve the prognosis of the patients.AimsThe aim of this presentation is to address the AI LE as a differential diagnosis in patients with psychiatric symptoms.MethodsPresentation of a clinical case of AI LE and syndrome revision.ResultsThe clinical case involves a 62-year-old man, with no psychiatric history, who begun to present depressive symptoms, emotional lability, aggressiveness and amnesic deficits with 4 months of evolution. After realize an exhaustive clinical evaluation, a cerebral MRI and LCR analysis, the results were consistent with seronegative AI LE. The patient was treated with corticoid therapy and presented a favorable evolution, with remission of the symptoms.ConclusionsEven though it is a rare pathology, AI LE is an important differential diagnosis to consider in patients with psychiatric symptoms and it is essential to enhance the early detection and treatment of this pathology. This condition also reinforces the role of AI diseases in psychiatric disorders in general, an area, which requires further investigation. With this clinical case, we expect medical professionals to be able to recognize the importance of this diagnosis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.