Table 1.
Classification of encephalitis groups in the present study and commonly associated clinical features.
| Encephalitis groups of the present study | Antibodies | Number of patients | Psychiatric symptoms | Additional symptoms | Typical patient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) NMDAR encephalitis (n = 53) | NMDA receptor | n = 53 (53%) | Psychosis, schizophreniform illness, catatonia, hallucinations, aggression | Epileptic seizures, dyskinesia, autonomic instability, speech dysfunction, decreased consciousness | Young women, association with ovarian teratomas |
| (B) Non-NMDAR cell surface antigens (n = 24) | Caspr2 | n = 4 (4%) | Insomnia, panic attacks, schizophreniform illness, depression | Morvan syndrome, neuromyotonia, muscle spasms, fasciculations | Middle age or elderly patients, may be associated with thymoma |
| LGI1 | n = 14 (14%) | Amnesia, confusion, memory deficits, depression | Limbic encephalitis, faciobrachial dystonic seizures, hyponatremia | Middle age or elderly patients, male:female (2:1), may be associated with thymoma | |
| Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 | n = 2 (2%) | Behavioral changes, emotional instability, memory deficits | Limbic encephalitis, Ophelia syndrome | Young adults, may be associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma | |
| Glycine receptor | n = 1 (1%) | Behavioral changes, schizophreniform syndrome | Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) or progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus, hyperekplexia | middle age or elderly patients, may be associated with thymomas and lymphomas | |
| (C) Antibodies against intracellular antigens (n = 23) | Synaptic antigens: anti-GAD antibodies | n = 9 (9%) | Schizophreniform illness, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder | Limbic encephalitis, seizures, SPS, brainstem dysfunction, ataxia | Middle age or elderly patients, might be associated with small-cell lung cancer |
| Onconeuronal antigens: anti-Yo, -Hu, -CV2, -Ri, -Ma2 antibodies | n = 14 (14%) | Behavioral changes | Limbic encephalitis, cerebellar degeneration, sensory neuropathy | Elderly patients, often with malignant tumors (small-cell lung carcinoma, Hu; testicular seminoma, Ma2) | |
NMDAR, N-methyl-d-aspartate-receptor; LGI1, leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1; Caspr2, contactin associated protein 2.