AUTHOR=Xu Yongfeng , Tao Qingqing , Dong Yi , Zhang Yinxi 

TITLE=Case report: Isolated brainstem-cerebellar symptoms in a patient with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1388667

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1388667

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Cerebellar ataxia is an uncommon and atypical manifestation of anti-<italic>N</italic>-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, often accompanied by seizures, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Previous cases of isolated brainstem-cerebellar symptoms in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis have not been documented. This report presents a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in which the patient exhibited cerebellar ataxia, nystagmus, diplopia, positive bilateral pathological signs, and hemiparesthesia with no other accompanying symptoms or signs. The presence of positive CSF anti-NMDAR antibodies further supports the diagnosis. Other autoantibodies were excluded through the use of cell-based assays. Immunotherapy was subsequently administered, leading to a gradual recovery of the patient.</p>