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“The Wonder Years” – A family’s journey getting to the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis May 4, 2016

“Doctors couldn’t explain what was happening to Rory, and more important, they didn’t know how to stop its progression. Wracked with worry, I pored through medical journals late into the night. I connected online with other parents whose children suffered similar symptoms … Read More

(Photograph Julie Monacella)

Dr. Luca Bartolini’s podcast on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis April 26, 2016

The following information was provided by Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Luca Bartolini is interviewed about his survey in Neurology on how to treat anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. The goal of the survey is to better understand best practices in treating this disease. The podcast can be found at Neurology® Clinical Practice […]

Dr. Luca Bartolini creates survey on best practices to treat anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis April 19, 2016

The following information was provided by Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In the absence of data from clinical trials, anecdotal experience and expert opinion become the main source of knowledge on which medical decisions are made to treat anti-NMDA encephalitis. Clinical approaches and decision-making are apt to change over time […]

A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis April 15, 2016

A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis Graus F, Titulaer MJ, et al. Lancet Neurology 2016 Apr; 15(4):391-404 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5066574/ Encephalitis is a severe inflammatory disorder of the brain with many possible causes and a complex differential diagnosis. Advances in autoimmune encephalitis research in the past 10 years have led to the identification of new […]

England’s National Health Service releases evidence review on Intravenous Immunoglobulin for AE April 5, 2016

The National Health Service of England published the following review of IVIg for treatment of autoimmune encephalitis. The report was released in January 2016. “Evidence Review: Intravenous immunoglobulin for autoimmune encephalitis” Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) is used to describe a group of disorders characterised by symptoms of limbic and extra-limbic dysfunction occurring in association with antibodies […]

Luncheon for patients with autoimmune encephalitis and their families draws 150 people from U.S. and Canada March 24, 2016

Over 150 patients and family members affected by autoimmune encephalitis gathered in Durham, NC, for a luncheon on March 5. Known simply as the “Family Lunch” the event is a chance to meet others affected by autoimmune encephalitis, laugh, celebrate, remember those lost to the disease, and share stories both privately and publicly. Having grown in […]

“Life After Encephalitis” a new book by Dr. Ava Easton March 16, 2016

Dr. Ava Easton, a health scientist and researcher specializing in encephalitis, acquired brain injury, and neuro-narratives, and a friend of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, has recently published a book titled Life After Encephalitis: A Narrative Approach. We are grateful that she contacted us about sharing this important work with patients, friends, caregivers and the medical community. Life After Encephalitis provides […]

Race connects nearly 2000 people in supporting autoimmune encephalitis victims around the globe March 9, 2016

Nearly 2000 runners, walkers, family members, volunteers, and supporters of all ages came out on Saturday to participate in the 4th annual Florence Forth Road Race to benefit the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance. Held in Durham, North Carolina, participants traveled from as far away as Germany, Colorado, Canada, Nebraska, Indiana, and California to be a part of […]

The Lancet publishes first broadly accepted criteria for diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis February 22, 2016

Today The Lancet released an important paper from Dr. Dalmau et al., providing the first broadly accepted criteria for diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis. Included in the paper are guidelines for diagnosing anti-body negative AE, a frustratingly difficult subset of AE cases to diagnose and thus treat. Many of the paper’s authors attended the International Symposium on Autoimmune […]

Today is World Encephalitis Day February 22, 2016

World Encephalitis Day is February, 22, each year – just remember 222. This is a day for all of us affected by encephalitis, whether we are patients, family members, doctors, researchers, or caregivers, to come together and talk about our experiences with brain inflammation and the many forms it takes. While we at the Autoimmune […]