Electroconvulsive Therapy in N-methyl-d-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A Retrospective Cohort and Scoping Review of Literature

Overview

Journal J Neuroimmunol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Jun 1

PMID 38823118

Authors

Melissa A Wright

Mar Guasp

Christian Lachner

Gregory S Day

Grace Gombolay

Maarten J Titulaer

Stacey L Clardy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARE) have led some to pursue empiric trials of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A scoping review identified 39 patients diagnosed with NMDARE undergoing ECT. Separately, a retrospective cohort was reviewed to characterize 21 patients. Clinical improvement was attributed to ECT in 49% of patients in the scoping review and 19% of patients in the retrospective cohort; timing of immunotherapies was a confounding factor. Worsening of clinical course following ECT was reported in 28% of patients in the scoping review and 38% of patient in the retrospective review. There is currently insufficient data supporting a beneficial effect of ECT in NMDARE.

Citing Articles

Catatonia in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a case series and approach to improve outcomes with electroconvulsive therapy.

Kraiter F, May D, Slauer R, Abburi N, Eckstein C, Shah S BMJ Neurol Open. 2024; 6(2):e000812.

PMID: 39564516 PMC: 11575251. DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-000812.

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