Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Successful palliative surgical treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy after anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis: Two case reports

Akiko Ozawa, M.D.1), Mineo Yamazaki, M.D., Ph.D.1), Yusuke Toda, M.D., Ph.D.1), Takuya Ebata, M.D.1), Seiichiro Mine, M.D., Ph.D.2) and Kazumi Kimura, M.D., Ph.D.3)

1)Department of Neurology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital
2)Division of Neurosurgery, Chiba Prefectural Sawara Hospital
3)Department of Neurology, Nippon Medical School

Epilepsy surgery for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy after anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis has been rarely reported. The present study reports two patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, who later underwent epilepsy surgery due to drug-resistant epilepsy. The patients had refractory status epilepticus in the acute phase. The cerebrospinal fluid was positive for anti-NMDA receptor antibodies. Systemic corticosteroid therapy and plasma exchange were effective. Seizure control, however, worsened over several months after discharge, and was refractory to antiepileptic drugs. They underwent palliative epilepsy surgery, and their seizure control improved. Epilepsy surgery should be considered in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy after anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (3806K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 60: 32|36, 2020)
key words: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, drug-resistant epilepsy, surgical treatment of epilepsy

(Received: 3-Jan-19)