Etoposide and immunotherapy can improve the outcome of severe anti-GABAB R encephalitis presenting with delta brush: A case report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Sep 11;99(37):e22087. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022087.

Abstract

Rationale: Anti-gamma-aminobutyric-acid B receptor (anti-GABAB R) encephalitis is clinically characterized by seizures, cognitive disorders, and behavioral changes. Most patients are diagnosed with small-cell lung carcinoma.

Patient concerns: The patient suffered from a repeated grand mal seizure lasting for 10 minutes, intermittent speech vagueness, manic at night, and mental disorder.

Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. The gamma-aminobutyric-acid B(GABAB) receptor antibody test result was positive. After a bronchoscopic biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with small-cell lung carcinoma.

Interventions: The patient was administered with intravenous immunoglobulin and Methylprednisolone. Etoposide was used after the small-cell lung carcinoma was diagnosed.

Outcomes: After immunotherapy, following the 4 months of Etoposide and antiseizure treatment, the neurology examination revealed a remarkable improvement. MRS score reduced from 5 to 1. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recovered to normal from an extreme delta brush (EDB) electroencephalographic-pattern.

Conclusion: Immunotherapy and Etoposide can improve the outcome of severe anti-γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor encephalitis with small-cell lung carcinoma. After immunotherapy and antineoplastic therapy, Electroencephalogram (EEG) can be recovered to normal from an extreme delta brush.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Encephalitis / complications
  • Encephalitis / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis / drug therapy*
  • Encephalitis / immunology
  • Etoposide / therapeutic use*
  • Hashimoto Disease / complications
  • Hashimoto Disease / diagnosis*
  • Hashimoto Disease / drug therapy*
  • Hashimoto Disease / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, GABA-B / immunology
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / complications
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • Etoposide
  • Methylprednisolone

Supplementary concepts

  • Hashimoto's encephalitis