NMDA receptor encephalitis and other antibody-mediated disorders of the synapse
The 2016 Cotzias Lecture
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Investigations during the last 10 years have revealed a group of disorders mediated by antibodies against ion channels and synaptic receptors, which cause both neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. In this review, I discuss the process of discovery and immunologic triggers of these disorders, and use anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis to emphasize the importance of understanding the underlying physiopathologic mechanisms in those diseases. A better knowledge of these mechanisms reveals points of convergence with other disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), suggests treatment strategies beyond immunotherapy, and is helping us understand how memories are formed and retrieved.
GLOSSARY
- BBB=
- blood–brain barrier;
- EphB2=
- Ephrin type B2 receptor;
- FLAIR=
- fluid-attenuated inversion recovery;
- HSE=
- herpes simplex encephalitis;
- IgG=
- immunoglobulin G;
- LEMS=
- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome;
- LTP=
- long-term potentiation;
- NMDAR=
- NMDA receptor
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the author, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
- Received July 10, 2016.
- Accepted in final form September 6, 2016.
- © 2016 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
NOTE: All authors' disclosures must be entered and current in our database before comments can be posted. Enter and update disclosures at http://submit.neurology.org. Exception: replies to comments concerning an article you originally authored do not require updated disclosures.
- Stay timely. Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- 200 words maximum.
- 5 references maximum. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- 5 authors maximum. Exception: replies can include all original authors of the article.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
- Article
- Abstract
- GLOSSARY
- THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERY
- A HUMAN MODEL OF IMMUNE DEPLETION OF NMDAR
- TRIGGERS OF SYNAPTIC AUTOIMMUNITY: TUMORS AND VIRUSES
- ANTIBODY EFFECTS ON SYNAPSES, PLASTICITY, AND BEHAVIOR: IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPIES
- ANTI-NMDAR ENCEPHALITIS AND THE NMDAR HYPOFUNCTION MODEL OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: TWO MECHANISMS CONVERGING ON NMDAR NETWORKS
- FUTURE STUDIES: AUTOANTIBODIES TO EXPLORE BRAIN FUNCTION
- AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
- STUDY FUNDING
- DISCLOSURE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT
- Footnotes
- REFERENCES
- Figures & Data
- Info & Disclosures
Related Articles
- No related articles found.