Many questions arise from this paper.
Why did these two patients have such an awful time when we see so many others with seemingly worse test results doing far better?
Would plasmapheresis help others - even some who don't actually have Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (so far as we can tell)?
What should it be called in future given "steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT)" is potentially dangerously misleading name?
Two PerPLEXing Cases of Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy Unresponsive to Steroid and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy
Abhinav Karan , Swetha R. Nuthulaganti, Yixin Zhang, Fadi Kandah, Maria Gutierrez, Pramod Reddy
Published: July 14, 2022
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26853
Cite this article as: Karan A, Nuthulaganti S R, Zhang Y, et al. (July 14, 2022) Two PerPLEXing Cases of Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy Unresponsive to Steroid and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy. Cureus 14(7): e26853. doi:10.7759/cureus.26853
Abstract
Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is a nebulous entity over which much controversy exists. Often referred to as steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), it describes a myriad of neurological sequelae that typically are observed to occur in patients with the presence of thyroid antibodies. We aim to raise clinical awareness of this seldom diagnosed entity as a potential etiology for altered mental status in patients who present with supporting clinical features and elevated thyroid antibodies. While steroid responsiveness is deemed a typical presenting feature of this medical condition, our cases aim to describe two cases that required escalation of therapy to intravenous immunoglobulins, and ultimately, plasmapheresis therapy for improvement in their clinical status. Our patients had a dramatic improvement in their mentation within three to four sessions of plasmapheresis, improving rapidly toward their baseline. Such a dramatic improvement, coupled with the corresponding reduction in their thyroid antibody titer supports the diagnosis of Hashimoto's encephalopathy and highlights the importance of having a low clinical threshold for the diagnosis of this entity in patients who, despite extensive evaluation, reveal no apparent cause for their altered mental status.
Full paper freely accessible including on PDF format from here:
