Hashimoto's encephalopathy mimicking presenile dementia

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2014 May-Jun;36(3):360.e9-11. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.01.006. Epub 2014 Jan 17.

Abstract

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE), which carries kaleidoscopic clinical presentations, is easily misdiagnosed in clinical practice. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of steroid therapy are associated with good prognosis. We describe a 50-year-old female patient who had subclinical hypothyroidism and who presented herself with gradual cognitive impairment, accompanied with auditory hallucination and delusion. Increased anti-thyroid antibodies titers were found in her serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The HE diagnosis was confirmed using the laboratory test for anti-thyroid antibodies along with the patient's clinical presentation. We treated her with steroid pulse therapy, and the results were favorable. We highlight this case to call for early diagnosis and prompt intervention of HE in clinical practice.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Dementia; Psychosis; Steroid; Thyroiditis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Diseases / complications*
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Encephalitis
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Hashimoto Disease / complications*
  • Hashimoto Disease / diagnosis
  • Hashimoto Disease / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Methylprednisolone / pharmacology
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology
  • Pulse Therapy, Drug
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Methylprednisolone

Supplementary concepts

  • Hashimoto's encephalitis