A Rare Case of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Associated with an Ovarian Teratoma

Eiad Habib^1, , Jay Patel^{2, 3}, Connor Kerndt^{2, 3}, Dan Summers^{2, 3} and TaLawnda Bragg^{2, 3}

¹Alfaisal University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 11533

²Department of Internal Medicine, Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA 49503

³Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Cite this paper

Eiad Habib, Jay Patel, Connor Kerndt, Dan Summers and TaLawnda Bragg. A Rare Case of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Associated with an Ovarian Teratoma. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2021; 9(7):354-357. doi: 10.12691/AJMCR-9-7-3

Abstract

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor encephalitis is a syndrome of psychiatric symptoms and neurologic sequelae that is commonly associated with an ovarian teratoma. The antagonism of cerebral NMDA receptors disrupts normal brain activity causing acute onset psychological disturbances including mania, psychosis, or anxiety. Due to the rarity of the condition, diagnosis may be delayed as other common disorders such as primary psychiatric disorders or infectious encephalitis are ruled out. With rapid diagnosis and management, including resection of the tumor and immunotherapy, positive outcomes may be achieved. We present the case of a 25-year-old female with neuropsychiatric manifestations and an ovarian teratoma who was subsequently diagnosed with anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis.

Keywords

paraneoplastic, anti-NMDA, receptor, encephalitis, ovarian teratoma

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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