Blog
How is the Brain Affected in Autoimmune Encephalitis?
Once Jack was conclusively diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis, he began receiving intravenous infusions of immunosuppressant medications. IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin, is believed to bind to the sites to which harmful antibodies bind to cause neural...
What is Autoimmune Encephalitis?
Jack was admitted to Duke’s Brain Disease Program in February 2016. He was given Ativan, a benzodiazapine, to manage anxiety, while he was tested for Lyme disease and various other blood disorders that may have caused his symptoms. He also received a second spinal...
The Blood-Brain Barrier
Diagnostic testing for Autoimmune Encephalitis has advanced tremendously in the past ten years. Ten years ago there were no commercial tests for any AE antibodies. Today it is possible to identify as many as 20 different antibodies. Tests for AE can involve a simple...
The Immune System
A year ago in January 2016, my nephew, Jack, was diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis. He developed symptoms very suddenly, a devastating and terrifying mix of psychotic behaviors, that resulted in him being taken first to Carolinas Medical Center in...