Autoimmune Encephalitis and Related Disorders of the Nervous System

Section 1. Overview:
1. Importance, definitions, history and classification of the autoimmune encephalitides
2. General approach to diagnosis
3. Pathogenesis and disease mechanisms in neuronal antibody-mediated encephalitis

Section 2. Autoantibodies and Antigens:
4. Intracellular antigens
5. Cell surface antigens

Section 3. Specific Syndromes and Diseases:
6. Limbic encephalitis
7. Autoimmunity against proteins associated with voltage-gated potassium channels
8. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
9. Seizures and autoantibodies against surface antigens
10. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease
11. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and glial fibrillary acidic protein autoimmunity
12. Autoimmune cerebellar ataxias
13. Autoimmune brainstem encephalitis
14. Autoimmunity against the inhibitory synapsis
15. Anti-IgLON5 disease
16. Autoimmune and inflammatory encephalopathies as complication of cancer
17. Deconstructing Hashimoto encephalopathy
18. CNS syndromes at the frontier of autoimmune encephalitis

Section 4. Autoimmunity in Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases:
19. Autoimmune psychosis
20. Psychiatric manifestations of autoimmune encephalitis
21. Abnormal movements in neurological autoimmune disorders
22. Sleep and autoimmunity

Autoimmune encephalitis, diseases where the immune system attacks the brain, have become a fast-moving field of study in recent years. The authors, Drs Josep Dalmau and Francesc Graus, have played pivotal roles in the discovery of these diseases. Here, they provide a comprehensive clinical guide to the differential diagnosis of these disorders, illustrated with over 200 figures, 30 videos and numerous clinical vignettes, many from their own practice. Clinical descriptions are straightforward, emphasizing distinctive diagnostic clues for each disease. The strengths and weaknesses of diagnostic tests and clinical criteria are discussed extensively, as well as the best evidence supporting the use of available treatments. There is an up-to-date description of immunological triggers and comorbidities, and well-illustrated and clearly summarized pathogenic mechanisms and disease models. Gain full HTML access of the whole book, including supplementary videos, via a scratch-off code inside the cover.