Ovarian teratoma-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with severe features

Antanina Voit; Ashley Graziano; Andrew Schomer; Danny Theodore

doi:10.1136/bcr-2023-258038

Ovarian teratoma-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with severe features

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Feb 14;17(2):e258038. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258038.

Authors

Antanina Voit¹, Ashley Graziano², Andrew Schomer², Danny Theodore²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA agh4qz@uvahealth.org.
² Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

PMID: 38355204
PMCID: PMC10868323 (available on 2026-02-14)
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258038

Abstract

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartame receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an uncommon clinical entity for the general intensivist or neurologist. Diagnosis can be made by the presence of cerebrospinal fluid IgG antibody against the GluNR1 and GluNR2 subunits of the NMDAR. We present a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a young woman with an ovarian teratoma treated with surgical resection and multiple immunomodulatory therapies.

Keywords: Adult intensive care; Epilepsy and seizures; Neurological injury.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis* / complications
Female
Humans
Ovarian Neoplasms* / complications
Ovarian Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Teratoma* / complications
Teratoma* / diagnosis
Teratoma* / surgery

Substances

Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Supplementary concepts

Teratoma, Ovarian