Stiff-Person Syndrome Associated with Anti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoimmune Encephalitis in a Young Woman: A Case Report.

Author: Shan Yu GAO ¹ ; Jun LU ² ; Chong Bo ZHAO ²
Author Information

1. Department of Neurology, Changshu No.2 Hospital, Yangzhou University, Changshu, Jiangsu 215500, China.
2. Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
From: Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2020;35(4):387-390
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: A 34-year-old female with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is reported in this paper. She experienced short-term memory impairment and was diagnosed with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoimmune encephalitis (AE) at the local hospital. However, after the treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose glucocorticoids, her symptoms unchanged. Two months later, she was admitted to our hospital due to an unstable gait and persistent leg stiffness, at which point she was diagnosed as anti-GAD AE concomitant with SPS. Her clinical symptoms improved with an increased dose of ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-enhancing drug and plasma exchange. Anti-GAD antibody-associated AE combined with SPS is extremely rare. Treatment with GABA-enhancing drugs and appropriate immunotherapy can improve the neurological function of patients suffering from the combination of SPS and limbic encephalitis.