• Amy M L Quek, Jeffrey W Britton, Andrew McKeon, Elson So, Vanda A Lennon, Cheolsu Shin, Christopher Klein, Robert E Watson, Amy L Kotsenas, Terrence D Lagerlund, Gregory D Cascino, Gregory A Worrell, Elaine C Wirrell, Katherine C Nickels, Allen J Aksamit, Katherine H Noe, and Sean J Pittock.
• Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
• Arch. Neurol. 2012 May 1; 69 (5): 582-93.

ObjectiveTo describe clinical characteristics and immunotherapy responses in patients with autoimmune epilepsy.DesignObservational, retrospective case series.SettingMayo Clinic Health System.PatientsThirty-two patients with an exclusive (n=11) or predominant (n=21) seizure presentation in whom an autoimmune etiology was suspected (on the basis of neural autoantibody [91%], inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid [31%], or magnetic resonance imaging suggesting inflammation [63%]) were studied. All had partial seizures: 81% had failed treatment with 2 or more antiepileptic drugs and had daily seizures and 38% had seizure semiologies that were multifocal or changed with time. Head magnetic resonance imaging was normal in 15 (47%) at onset. Electroencephalogram abnormalities included interictal epileptiform discharges in 20; electrographic seizures in 15; and focal slowing in 13. Neural autoantibodies included voltage-gated potassium channel complex in 56% (leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated 1 specific, 14; contactin-associated proteinlike 2 specific, 1); glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 in 22%; collapsin response- mediator protein 5 in 6%; and Ma2, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, and ganglionic acetylcholine receptor in 1 patient each.InterventionImmunotherapy with intravenous methylprednisolone; intravenous immune globulin; and combinations of intravenous methylprednisolone, intravenous immune globulin, plasmapheresis, or cyclophosphamide.Main Outcome MeasureSeizure frequency.ResultsAfter a median interval of 17 months (range, 3-72 months), 22 of 27 (81%) reported improvement postimmunotherapy; 18 were seizure free. The median time from seizure onset to initiating immunotherapy was 4 months for responders and 22 months for nonresponders (P<.05). All voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibody-positive patients reported initial or lasting benefit (P<.05). One voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibody-positive patient was seizure free after thyroid cancer resection; another responded to antiepileptic drug change alone.ConclusionWhen clinical and serological clues suggest an autoimmune basis for medically intractable epilepsy, early-initiated immunotherapy may improve seizure outcome.

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