Ovarian teratoma associated with anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a report of 5 cases documenting prominent intratumoral lymphoid infiltrates.

Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a condition wherein the immune system targets the central nervous system (CNS) tissue due to the presence of an ovarian teratoma that has differentiated into central nervous system tissue. The immune system is never naturally exposed to CNS tissue because the blood brain barrier prevents the passing of leukocytes and other antigen presenting cells. However, immunoglobulin produced by the immune system are able to pass the blood-brain barrier. Thus, when the teratoma differentiated to CNS tissue, the immune system recognized it as foreign and began producing antibodies against it, which invaded the brain and caused encephalitis, fever, delusions, hallucinations (auditory and visual), psychosis, and a number of other symptoms associated with full immune response to the brain tissue. Ultimately it was resolved with surgical removal of the teratoma and immunosuppressive therapy until the inflammation had subsided.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22833082

Group:

Clay McGeehan, Cory Mahler, Noah Huh, Jeremy Huckleby, Alex Matelski