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GABAA receptor and anti-titin antibody encephalitis in a patient with thymoma.

Maria TappatàMaria Pia GiannoccaroMichele RomoliStefania TestoniGiorgia ArnoneLaura PiccoloPiergiorgio SolliAnna ZaniboniFederica NaldiKeivan Kaveh MoghadamNazarena NanniniStefania DamianiRocco LiguoriAndrea Zini
Published in: Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (2022)
Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) associated to antibodies against GABA A R is a rare form of encephalitis. On the other hand, thymoma has been linked to antibodies against both muscular and neuronal epitopes, even if concurrent positivity for more than one antibody is exceptional, and their contribution to the clinical course and treatment decision is unclear. We report a case of a 73-year-old male with AE associated with thymoma secreting both anti-GABAaR and anti-titin antibodies. Clinical presentation included status epilepticus, behavioural changes and cognitive decline. While the status was stopped with lacosamide, AE treatment included first- and second-line immunomodulation, in addition to thymoma's removal. Nonetheless, the patient experienced a worsening in cognitive and behavioural status.
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