Case Report: High-dose steroid and IVIG successful treatment in a case of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis: a literature review

Chi-Hung Liu; Li-Chung Chiu; Chih-Chun Lee; Tien-Ming Chan

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1240089

Case Report: High-dose steroid and IVIG successful treatment in a case of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis: a literature review

Front Immunol. 2023 Sep 22:14:1240089. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1240089. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Chi-Hung Liu¹, Li-Chung Chiu², Chih-Chun Lee³, Tien-Ming Chan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Education, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Medical Education, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.
⁴ Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Abstract

Autoimmune encephalitis is a rare but critical complication of COVID-19. The management of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis includes the use of steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, and monoclonal antibody therapy. This study presented a patient with critical COVID-19 autoimmune encephalitis who rapidly recovered after the initiation of corticosteroids and IVIG therapy. This study reviewed the current literature on the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis.

Keywords: COVID-19; IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) administration; autoimmune encephalitis; diagnosis; high-dose steroid therapy.

Publication types

Review
Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System* / drug therapy
COVID-19* / complications
Encephalitis, Viral* / drug therapy
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
Steroids / therapeutic use

Substances

Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
Steroids

Supplementary concepts

Hashimoto's encephalitis

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Center for Big Data Analytics and Statistics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou and Chang Gung Research-Database. (Project No.: CGRPG3M0021 and CGRPG3M0041).