[Anti-thyroid antibodies in two patients with subacute dementia, ataxia, and myoclonus]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2012 Feb 27;174(9):577-9.
[Article in Danish]

Abstract

Hashimoto encephalitis (HE) is a steroid-responsive autoimmune encephalitis with anti-thyroid antibodies; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a prion disease. Both disorders can have a similar clinical presentation. Two women, 67 and 63 year-old, with subacute dementia, ataxia, myoclonus and positive antithyroid antibodies were given oral steroids. Whereas one progressively declined and had histopathologically proven CJD, the other made a complete recovery and was diagnosed with HE. Anti-thyroid antibodies can occur in CJD, but when present in a patient with subacute dementia, ataxia and myoclonus, a steroid trial always seems indicated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Ataxia / diagnosis*
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cerebrum / pathology
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / pathology
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Encephalitis
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Hashimoto Disease / diagnosis*
  • Hashimoto Disease / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Middle Aged
  • Myoclonus / diagnosis*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisolone

Supplementary concepts

  • Hashimoto's encephalitis