Epidemiology of autoimmune encephalitis and comparison to infectious causes-Experience from a tertiary center.

AIE incidence has risen significantly in our institution during the past decade, with current rates comparable to those of all infectious causes combined. Based on this cohort, clinical clues for an autoimmune etiology include a non-inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid profile, the presence of seizures, and temporal lobe imaging abnormalities (also common in herpetic encephalitis). In light of its rising incidence and the importance of early treatment, AIE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all encephalitis cases.