Relapsing Anti-GAD65-Associated Encephalitis Responsive to Thymoma Resection, Radiation, and Immunomodulatory Therapy

Jonathan D Krett; Maria E Molinaro; Justin C McArthur; David O Kamson; Kemar E Green; John C Probasco

doi:10.1177/19418744241239099

Relapsing Anti-GAD65-Associated Encephalitis Responsive to Thymoma Resection, Radiation, and Immunomodulatory Therapy

Neurohospitalist. 2024 Jul;14(3):363-365. doi: 10.1177/19418744241239099. Epub 2024 Mar 9.

Authors

Jonathan D Krett¹, Maria E Molinaro¹, Justin C McArthur^{1

2

3}, David O Kamson^{1

4}, Kemar E Green¹, John C Probasco¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 38895007
PMCID: PMC11181984 (available on 2025-07-01)
DOI: 10.1177/19418744241239099

Abstract

Herein we describe a case of relapsing anti-GAD65-associated encephalitis which was responsive to the combination of thymoma resection, external beam radiotherapy, and immunomodulatory therapy. The case illustrates the value of remaining vigilant for the possibility of paraneoplastic syndromes in the context of anti-GAD65 antibodies and thymoma. It also illustrates that tumor-directed therapies may offer additional benefit beyond immunomodulatory therapy alone.

Keywords: imaging; nervous system; neuroimmunology; paraneoplastic syndromes.