Autoimmune Encephalopathy

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Admin
Autoimmune Encephalopathy

Autoimmune Encephalopathy

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE), which has recently been designated steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), is an autoimmune disorder that can cause memory impairment, cognitive changes, dementia and associated neurological symptoms. HE can occur in patients with hypothyroidism related to Hashimoto's thyroiditis and in patients with normal thyroid function. In some cases, particularly when HE occurs in association with non-thyroid related disorders such as Sjogren's syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it's called nonvasculitic autoimmune meningoencephalitis (NAIM).

The first cases of Hashimoto's encephalopathy were reported in 1966 when the existence of thyroid antibodies in the blood of patients with the autoimmune hypothyroid disorder Hashimoto's thyroiditis was first demonstrated. SREAT is caused by the same thyroid antibodies that cause Hashimoto's thyroiditis although in SREAT, rather than destroying thyroid tissue, these antibodies attack and destroy brain cells known as neurons. Most experts believe that SREAT is under-diagnosed and that many patients thought to have Alzheimer's disease actually have SREAT, which is a treatable disorder. Hashimoto's encephalopathy has been reported worldwide, and cases have been documented in patients ranging from 12-82 years with women more likely to be affected than men.