Main description:

Autoimmune encephalitis, diseases where the immune system attacks the brain, have become a fast-moving field of study in recent years. The authors, Drs Josep Dalmau and Francesc Graus, have played pivotal roles in the discovery of these diseases. Here, they provide a comprehensive clinical guide to the differential diagnosis of these disorders, illustrated with over 200 figures, 30 videos and numerous clinical vignettes, many from their own practice. Clinical descriptions are straightforward, emphasizing distinctive diagnostic clues for each disease. The strengths and weaknesses of diagnostic tests and clinical criteria are discussed extensively, as well as the best evidence supporting the use of available treatments. There is an up-to-date description of immunological triggers and comorbidities, and well-illustrated and clearly summarized pathogenic mechanisms and disease models. Gain full HTML access of the whole book, including supplementary videos, via a scratch-off code inside the cover.

Contents:

Section 1. Overview: 1. Importance, definitions, history and classification of the autoimmune encephalitides; 2. General approach to diagnosis; 3. Pathogenesis and disease mechanisms in neuronal antibody-mediated encephalitis; Section 2. Autoantibodies and Antigens: 4. Intracellular antigens; 5. Cell surface antigens; Section 3. Specific Syndromes and Diseases: 6. Limbic encephalitis; 7. Autoimmunity against proteins associated with voltage-gated potassium channels; 8. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis; 9. Seizures and autoantibodies against surface antigens; 10. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease; 11. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and glial fibrillary acidic protein autoimmunity; 12. Autoimmune cerebellar ataxias; 13. Autoimmune brainstem encephalitis; 14. Autoimmunity against the inhibitory synapsis; 15. Anti-IgLON5 disease; 16. Autoimmune and inflammatory encephalopathies as complication of cancer; 17. Deconstructing Hashimoto encephalopathy; 18. CNS syndromes at the frontier of autoimmune encephalitis; Section 4. Autoimmunity in Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases: 19. Autoimmune psychosis; 20. Psychiatric manifestations of autoimmune encephalitis; 21. Abnormal movements in neurological autoimmune disorders; 22. Sleep and autoimmunity; 23. Immunity, inflammation and epilepsy; 24. Autoimmune dementia: a useful term?; 25. Frequently asked questions.