Encephalitis, severe seizures, and multifocal brain lesions

In this issue of N2 , the paper by O'Connor et al.1 reports the clinical, immunologic, and radiographic features of a series of patients with anti-γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor encephalitis. Anti-GABAA receptor encephalitis is characterized by cognitive disruption, severe seizures, and characteristic brain lesions.2 The disease affects a very broad age range and both sexes. In the current study, as in prior reports, most patients responded favorably to immune therapy, although the optimal approach is still not clear. The series does provide a cautionary note regarding a patient with delayed diagnosis who had poor outcome. The present report further confirms the risk of thymoma, among other malignancies, although cases occurring after herpes virus infection have also been reported.3