A Case of Nonvasculitic Autoimmune Inflammatory Meningoencephalitis Accompanied by Sjogren’s Syndrome and Elevated Antithyroid Antibodies

Abstract

Background: Nonvasculitic autoimmune inflammatory meningoencephalitis (NAIM) is known to be one of the causes of potentially reversible dementia. NAIM can be accompanied by various autoimmune diseases.

Methods: A 65 year-old woman had been treated with stable bipolar disorder and presented with rapid cognitive decline, visual hallucination and myoclonus. Anti-thyroid antibodies were elevated. Her symptoms were responsive to steroid therapy. Her diagnostic evaluation also revealed Sjogren’s syndrome. Although her symptoms recovered, a manic episode reappeared and was responsive to psychiatric treatment.

Conclusions: Patients presenting with rapidly progressive dementia should be thoroughly evaluated for the diagnosis of NAIM, a potentially treatable form of dementia, and the possible various underlying autoimmune etiologies.