Epilepsia Partialis Continua as an Early Sign of Anti-Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-positive Encephalitis

Intern Med. 2020 Jun 1;59(11):1445-1449. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3076-19. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Abstract

Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies have been associated with steroid-responsive cortical encephalitis and comorbid generalized epilepsy. A 44-year-old woman developed repeated epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) without generalized seizures and was anti-MOG antibody-positive. Radiological abnormalities were detected in the bilateral medial frontoparietal cortices, but there were no cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. She achieved remission with anti-epileptic drugs alone. However, encephalitis recurred four months later when pleocytosis appeared, and steroid therapy was effective. Altogether, EPC without typical cerebrospinal fluid features can be an early sign of anti-MOG antibody-positive encephalitis. Thus, patients with EPC of unknown etiology need to be screened for anti-MOG antibodies.

Keywords: anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody; cortical encephalitis; epilepsia partialis continua (EPC).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Encephalitis / complications*
  • Encephalitis / immunology*
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / drug therapy*
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / etiology
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein