Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a central nervous system disease characterized by neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Immunotherapy is the basic treatment for this disease, including first- and second-line therapies for the acute stage and the long-course therapy for the chronic stage. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis often has a good prognosis, but some patients may still have neurological dysfunction due to poor response to current immunotherapy. In addition, the adverse reactions and economic burden of drugs are practical problems in clinical practice. To solve the above problems, continuous improvements have been made in immunotherapy regimens in terms of dose, route of administration, and course of treatment, and some new immunotherapy drugs have emerged. This article reviews the recent research on immunotherapy for anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Retrospective Studies

Cryptococcal encephalitis is a fatal central nervous system infectious disease,whereas anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)receptor encephalitis(NMDARE)is an autoimmune syndrome associated with psychological symptoms,behavioural abnormalities,seizures,and dyskinesias.Despite their distinct pathologies and pathogenic mechanisms,both of them can lead to cognitive dysfunction and abnormal behaviors,although anti-NMDARE can also have mood and mental disorders as its core manifestations.A patient with nephrotic syndrome accompanied by both cryptococcal encephalitis and anti-NMDARE was treated in our center,which for the first confirmed that these two conditions could coexist in one patient.The underlying mechanism may be similar to that of anti-NMDARE after other infections.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; Antibodies ; Humans ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Neuraxial opioid administration is one of the most common methods of anesthesia and analgesia,while itching is the most troublesome adverse effect.The current treatments for neuraxial opioid-induced pruritus still have certain limitations.This article reviews the current treatments and basic scientific findings(including neurotransmitters,opioid receptors,and signaling pathways)of pruritus caused by neuraxial opioids.Based on our recent findings on N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)receptors and pruritus caused by neuraxial opioids,we provide new ideas for the treatment of itching caused by neuraxial opioids.Since NMDA receptors may play a key role in neuraxial opioid-induced pruritus,NMDA receptor antagonists can have certain therapeutic advantages.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is the most prevalent type of encephalitis. Investigating the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis will enhance our understanding of this disease and play a central part in providing reasonable treatment for the patients. The pathogenesis is elucidated as follows: (1) the findings of the relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and tumors; (2) further research on the relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and tumors; (3) NMDAR epitopes and the autoimmunity of patients; (4) the interaction between antibody and NMDAR; (5) the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis without tumors. This review gives a brief introduction to the methodology and way of finding out the valuable clinical problems and making a clear and explicit explanation of them by exhibiting the process of discovering the disease, disclosing its relationship with tumors, and investigating its pathological and molecular mechanism. Current studies have demonstrated that anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system that is closely associated with tumors, particularly ovarian teratoma.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; etiology ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; complications ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis in children.

METHODClinical data of 28 children diagnosed as anti-NMDAR encephalitis were retrospectively analyzed for EEG characteristics in different periods and severity of disease and outcome.

RESULTAmong the 28 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, 15 were males and 13 were females. Their age at disease onset ranged from 1 year 3 months to 12 years 4 months. Patients were divided into mild group (5 cases) and severe group (23 cases). In the different stage of the disease, occipital background activity of the EEG was preserved in more than half of patients. Accompanied by the evolution of disease course, the occipital background activity and slow waves gradually recovered to normal. In the peak phase of disease, occipital background activity in the awake state was preserved in 4/5 patients of the mild group and 9/17 patients of the severe group. Alpha and theta band rhythms in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep existed in 77% (17/22) patients. EEG monitoring showed delta brushes in 2 cases, and the delta brushes were mixed with background fast waves in one case; 71% (20/28) patients had epileptiform discharges in EEG during the course, and among them, 6 patients had secondary epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONThe background activity in the awake state and abnormal diffuse slow waves of EEG were evolved and gradually recovered during the course of the disease. Regardless milder or severe illness condition, occipital background activity was still preserved during different stages in most patients. Alpha and theta rhythms in NREM sleep might represent a relatively overt EEG characteristic. The presence of delta brush in EEG was rare, and sometimes they were difficult to be distinguished from fast wave activities caused by drugs. The presence of epileptiform discharges in EEG suggested the possibility of secondary epilepsy.

To investigate the clinical features, auxiliary examination and characteristics for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis and its concomitant seizure.
 Methods: A total of 20 patients diagnosed as anti-NMDAR encephalitis were enrolled from January 2016 to September 2018 in Xiangya Hospital. The data including the clinical features, auxiliary examination, characteristics of seizure, treatment and prognosis were collected. The discharged patients were followed up for half a year.
 Results: The initial symptom in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were mainly psychiatric symptom and seizure. Most of the EEG result were diffused slow waves. The mainly type of seizure in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis showed generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Patients occurred consciousness during the onset of the disease. MRI showed that patients with temporal lobe were more inclined to occur seizure than patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis (P<0.05). After standardized treatment, 20 patients showed a significant improvement in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and the seizure was under control within half a year. 
 Conclusion: Patients with temporal lobe affected in MRI should pay attention to the possibility of seizure occurrence. Anti-epileptic drugs and immunotherapy should be used promptly in patient with seizure. After standardized treatment, the prognosis of patients will be mostly good.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to neuronal extracellular membrane antigens, including the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, have been associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. In 2003, the first case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was identified in a young woman with subacute onset of ehavioural changes and seizures.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this case report is to describe the clinical features, disease course and management of a documented case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in the Philippines. It also aims to highlight a unique feature of the disease as seen in the patient.
CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient is a 36-year-old female with no known co-morbidities presenting with subacute onset of ehavioural change and generalized seizures. She was initially worked-up for viral encephalitis but the diagnostic tests were negative. With a suspicion of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a search was made for the presence of a teratoma. This was confirmed by imaging studies and subsequent surgical resection of an immature mesenteric teratoma was done. Immunohistochemical assay of both blood and CSF were positive for NMDAR antibodies.
CONCLUSION: This is the first confirmed case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis reported in the Philippines. It has the unique feature of being associated with an immature mesenteric teratoma, a finding that has not been reported in literature. The possibility of anti-NMDAR encephalitis need to be considered among patients with subacute onset of ehavioural changes and seizures when usual diagnostic tests for the more common etiologies prove negative.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Excitatory Amino Acids* ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Rats* ; Receptors, Glutamate* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate*

Although postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common chronic pain syndrome, the pathophysiology of this disorder is not well known and management is often very difficult. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are known to be effective in PHN, and magnesium, a physiological blocker of NMDA receptors, is widely used to treat various chronic pain disorders. Here, we present a case of the PHN refractory to conventional treatment, which was treated successfully with transforaminal epidural injection of magnesium sulphate at the affected dermatome.
Chronic Pain ; Injections, Epidural ; Magnesium ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

No abstract available.
Acidosis, Respiratory* ; Ion Channels* ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate