A 22-Year-Old Woman with NMDA Receptor Antibody Encephalitis Possibly Triggered by SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

A 22-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) on two occasions with seizures, altered mental status, psychoses, and behavioral changes. Analysis of both serum and cerebrospinal fluid revealed positive anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antibodies, confirming the diagnosis of NMDAR antibody encephalitis. Interestingly, 5-6 weeks before her ED visits, she had experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection, potentially serving as a triggering factor for her autoimmune encephalitis. This case adds to the limited instances documented in the literature, highlighting the potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the onset of autoimmune encephalitis