Neuropsychological implication in possible antibody-negative limbic encephalitis: a clinical case report

Autoimmune limbic encephalitis is an antibody-mediated brain inflammatory process, which typically involves the medial temporal lobe. Diagnosis requires the presence of antineuronal antibodies, but sometimes patients present clinical features of limbic encephalitis despite negative serology. Thus, the diagnosis of antibody-negative limbic encephalitis is difficult to make, and it must often rely largely on exclusion of other causes. This current case report describes a 28-year-old male that presented 2 months after the acute event with radiological changes typical of limbic encephalitis, but with no identifiable antibody and neuropsychological impairment. Antibody responses to neurotropic viruses and antibody-mediated encephalitis were negative in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Magnetic resonance imaging showed signs of hyperintensity in the hippocampus bilaterally, amygdala and left pulvinar. The neuropsychological evaluation showed a deficit in emotional face recognition and severe autobiographical amnesia. Bilateral damage to the medial temporal lobe and hippocampus, including the amygdala, is associated with alterations in autobiographical memories. The neuropsychological impairment documented in this current case expands the range of clinical features of antibody-negative encephalitis and provides evidence that the memory deficit in this disorder is more extensive than was previously recognized.

Automated summary

Autoimmune limbic encephalitis is a brain inflammatory process that involves the medial temporal lobe and is mediated by antibodies. Diagnosing antibody-negative limbic encephalitis is challenging as it relies on excluding other causes. This case report describes a patient with typical radiological changes of limbic encephalitis, but with no identifiable antibodies and neuropsychological impairment.