Therapeutic plasma exchange as a steroid-sparing therapy in a patient with limbic encephalitis due to antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels

J Clin Apher. 2016 Feb;31(1):63-5. doi: 10.1002/jca.21395. Epub 2015 Apr 7.

Abstract

Autoantibodies to the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex cause a spectrum of non-paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes including limbic encephalitis (LE). We report a case of a man with LE who underwent a course of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in addition to other immunomodulatory therapies and experienced sustained clinical resolution of his symptoms. This report adds to the existing literature supporting TPE in cases of LE due to VGKC complex autoantibodies.

Keywords: LGI1antibodies; TPE; VGKC antibodies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Limbic Encephalitis / etiology
  • Limbic Encephalitis / immunology*
  • Limbic Encephalitis / therapy*
  • Male
  • Plasma Exchange*
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / immunology*
  • Steroids / adverse effects

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated
  • Steroids