Posterior reversible encephalopathy and alexia without agraphia in a patient with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy

Neuropsychological impairment in Hashimoto's encephalopathy: A case report and literature review

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare neurological syndrome characterized by the presence of positive serum antithyroid antibodies, altered mental status, and clinical response to glucocorticoid therapy. Although HE has been documented in the literature from a medical standpoint, reports on the neuropsychological presentation of this syndrome are scarce. This article presents a literature review of cognitive deficits reported in HE cases. In addition, we describe the case of a 76-year-old Russian speaking woman diagnosed with HE in May 2012. MRIs from her disease course and treatment are presented. Posttreatment neuropsychological testing revealed intact attention and construction and impairment in working memory, processing speed, learning, executive functioning, language, and bilateral fine motor dexterity, all of which impacted her functional abilities. Her profile was inconsistent with the typical dementia process. This case demonstrates the utility of neuropsychological assessment for understanding cognitive and functional consequences of HE. The issue of differential diagnosis with dementia is also discussed.

Steroid-responsive thalamic lesions accompanying microbleeds in a case of Hashimoto's encephalopathy with autoantibodies against α-enolase

A 67-year-old man receiving antithrombotic therapy developed rapidly progressive amnesia. T2-weighted images of brain MRI revealed hyperintense lesions in the bilateral thalami accompanied by microbleeds. Antithyroglobulin antibodies and autoantibodies against the N-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) were identified in the patient's serum; therefore, Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) was suspected. Although the patient's radiological findings improved following steroid therapy, his symptoms did not improve, possibly due to increased thalamic microbleeds. Because anti-NAE antibodies are possibly associated with vasculitis, HE accompanied by anti-NAE antibodies may be exacerbated by microbleeds in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy: neuropsychological findings

Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE) is a rare and often reversible neurological syndrome associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and steroid-responsiveness. This syndrome includes behavioral symptoms like delusions and delirium, mood disturbances, epilepsy, progressive cognitive impairment and alteration of vigilance and consciousness with confused state until coma. Two subtypes of clinical presentation are described: ictal onset with seizures and stroke like episode and insidious onset with progressive dementia. The pathogenesis is uncertain; several theories have been proposed: autoimmune, vasculitic and demyelinating. Here, we report the case of a patient with HE who was submitted to exhaustive neuropsychological exams in the premorbid and the acute phase, and following resolution of the acute phase. After the initial confusional state resolved, results of the neuropsychological exams revealed a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment that eventually evolved toward a selective deficit in executive functions. This pattern of cognitive impairment suggests that, after an initial phase characterized by diffuse brain involvement, our patient was primarily affected by frontal lobe sufferance.