An exploratory study on autoimmune encephalitis and comorbidities in the Manitoba patient population: 7 cases and a review of literature
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Date
2019
Authors
Bell, Kelli
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Abstract
Autoimmune encephalitis is a potentially life threatening, rapidly debilitating disease that is often overlooked or late in diagnosis resulting in lengthy hospital stays and ICU admission. Autoimmune encephalitis may be associated with comorbidities or potential “triggers”. The patient population from Health Sciences Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba, was studied to elucidate the comorbidities associated with autoimmune encephalitis in relation to previously identified comorbidities from the medical literature. Charts were reviewed under classification of non-infectious encephalitis category for autoimmune encephalitis, from Jan. 2004-Jan. 2019. Seventy-three charts were evaluated. Seven patients were identified or diagnosed as autoimmune encephalitis. Five out of seven patients were female (71%). The range in length of hospitalization varied from 7 days to 53 days. The mean length of stay (LOS) was 25 days. The 2 male patients had the longest hospitalizations. Common comorbidities were depression, anxiety, neuropsychiatric symptoms, diabetes mellitus with one patient exhibiting multiple concurrent autoimmune morbidities. None of the patients had positive findings for neoplasms, in contrast to the autoimmune encephalitis literature. Autoimmune encephalitis remains a challenging and rare diagnosis. Triggers and/or risk factors predisposing one to this disease may be difficult to identify however, attention to patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms in combination with autoimmune morbidities may allow prompt treatment leading to improved prognosis and decreased hospital stays.
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Keywords
Autoimmune encephalitis