Antithyroid antibodies in the CSF - Their role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's encephalopathy

Antithyroid antibodies and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were found in the CSF of six patients with Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) but not in the CSF of 21 controls. The synthesis of autoantibodies and CIC was intrathecal and their titers were independent of the patients' clinical status or therapy. Their presence in the CSF of patients with acute or subacute encephalopathy may be useful in diagnosing HE.