Autoimmune encephalitis and sleep disorders

Abstract

Research shows that autoimmune encephalitis is associated with sleep disorders. Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) with Ma2 antibodies can cause sleep disorders, particularly narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Limbic encephalitis (LE) and Morvan syndrome, associated with voltage - gated potassium channel (VGKC)-complex antibodies, which include leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody and contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2), can result in profound insomnia and other sleep disorders. Central neurogenic hypoventilation are found in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis, whereas obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), stridor and parasomnia are prominent features of encephalopathy associated with IgLON5 antibodies. Sleep disorders are cardinal manifestations in patients with autoimmune encephalitis. Immunotherapy possiblely can improve clinical symptoms and prognosis in a positive way.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.10.004