Autoimmune Encephalitis

New treatment for anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis reports Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin February 2, 2017

One of the one of the largest university hospitals in Europe, Charite’, recorded significant progress in treating anti-NMDAR, including in patients who did not previously respond to treatment. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. It is a rare autoimmune disease that results in the body producing antibodies against […]

Largest fundraiser for AEA, “Florence Forth,” coming up on March 4 January 24, 2017

Did you know that our largest fundraiser is coming up on March 4, 2017, in Durham NC? That’s right, it is time for the 5th annual Florence Forth run/walk, and Family Lunch.  Individuals and teams are welcome. The events in 2016 attracted almost 1500 runners/walkers, 300 volunteers, and 150 family members of those affected by […]

Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance and Option Care co-sponsoring Mayo Clinic Trial on IVIg January 16, 2017

The Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance and Option Care Enterprises, Inc. are co-sponsoring a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic to evaluate intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in patients with autoimmune epilepsy who fail to benefit from standard epilepsy medications. This study, the first of its kind, builds on Mayo Clinic research advances identifying new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment […]

Autoimmune Encephalitis: the Oldest Survivor? January 10, 2017

In her New York Times bestseller Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, journalist Susannah Cahalan describes dreadful psychological experiences associated with her eventual diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Compared with other forms of autoimmune disease and other types of encephalitis, knowledge about this particular diagnostic entity seems to be unfamiliar to most physicians; the medical […]

Your gift is worth double thanks to match by Bob and Suzi Given December 28, 2016

Suzi and Bob Given have contributed $25,000 to establish a matching campaign for the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance. This means donations we receive will be matched 1:1 up to $25K, by the Given’s gift. Bob is recovering from autoimmune encephalitis and states, “I directly benefited from the work being done by AEA, as have so many others. This donation […]

Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance co-sponsors pediatric AE treatment consensus meeting December 5, 2016

The Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, along with Children’s National Health System, and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance, co-sponsored the first International Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis Treatment Consensus Meeting at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, on November 14. “The AE Alliance was honored to help bring many of the world’s leading experts […]

Role of 18F-FDG-PET imaging in the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis October 6, 2016

The following is from The Lancet Neurology and is a response from Francesc Graus and Josep Dalmau first published in Sept. 2016. We thank Silvia Morbelli and colleagues for their comments on the role of brain 18fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET imaging in the management of autoimmune encephalitis. We agree about the potential use of 18F-FDG-PET in the diagnosis and evaluation […]

New pediatric center in Arizona targets autoimmune disorders September 23, 2016

The following was reported by Stephanie Innes at the Arizona Daily Star. The opening of the new Children’s Postinfectious Autoimmune Encephalopathy Center in Tucson marks a new era of pediatric research for the University of Arizona, UA president Ann Weaver Hart said Tuesday during an opening event held at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson. The disorders hit […]

AEA co-sponsors physician education events in Los Angeles, CA September 19, 2017

AEA was honored to co-host two educational events in June, featuring one of the world’s foremost experts on autoimmune encephalitis, Dr. Sean Pittock. The events, including a dinner presentation and Grand Rounds, where held on June 12 and 13, in Los Angeles, California, and were co-sponsored by AEA, the Keck School of Medicine of University […]

Unexpected Career Interruption – You Can Come Back Stronger from Autoimmune Encephalitis October 17, 2017

Many thanks to Will Earnhart for sharing his inspiring story reprinted below, which first appeared in the September 2017 Alaska Bar Association quarterly newspaper. As attorneys, many of us have type “A” personalities; always striving to be successful in our careers.  We never take a step back for fear of stopping the momentum.  Almost all […]