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CASE REPORT
NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) encephalitis in a patient with MS (multiple sclerosis): a rare and challenging case
  1. Sadia Suleman1,
  2. Qaiser Javed2
  1. 1General Adult Psychiatry, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
  2. 2Liaison Psychiatry, Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Sadia Suleman, drsadiasuleman{at}yahoo.co.uk

Summary

We present a rare case of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis in a 41-year-old Caucasian woman, who initially presented with prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms on the background of pre-existing multiple sclerosis. Here, the authors navigate the muddy water between neurology and psychiatry, describing the caveats of antibody testing with a misdiagnosed case of acute and transient psychotic episode. NMDAR encephalitis in MS is a rare condition, which can be easily confused with a new onset psychotic episode. This case report can be helpful in recognition and diagnosis of this rare condition. Making the right diagnosis is important since it can prevent an unnecessary radical treatment and long-term neuropsychiatric complications.

  • psychotic disorders (incl schizophrenia)
  • delirium
  • multiple sclerosis
  • memory disorders
  • infection (neurology)

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Footnotes

  • Contributors SS wrote the draft of the manuscript along with literature review. QJ was involved in patient management and revised the manuscript critically. All authors approved the final manuscript for submission.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.