Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis: A Diagnostic Challenge

Tasneem Bharmal, Aadijaya Bhatia, Aloke Banerjee, Shibban K Kaul, Chander P Puri
2016 MGM Journal of Medical Sciences  
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is probably underdiagnosed, because of diversity of its symptoms and lack of specific diagnostic markers. A case of 29-year-old woman with complaints of persistent headache, behavior and memory changes has been discussed. Efforts have been made to establish all those diagnostic steps required to be applied before proceeding empirical therapy for PLE. The overall poor outcome of PLE likely stems from both the delay in recognition and treatment, and thus
more » ... sulting in immunemediated neuronal injury. The prognosis is dependent upon the type of associated paraneoplastic onconeuronal antigen. In general, cytotoxic T-cell mediated process connected with intracellular antigens e.g. Hu is less responsive to two-pronged approach of tumour removal and immune therapy in comparison to immune process related to cell surface antigens which carries a worse neurological outcome.
doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10036-1124 fatcat:htqen3lzvjadlnibtkeizcx5ia