Plasma exchange for anti GAD associated non paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis.

Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a neurological syndrome usually presenting in a paraneoplastic form. Recently many cases were reported with no concurring neoplasia, presenting with specific antibodies for voltage-gated potassium channel or for neuronal membrane antigens. Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies act against GABAergic receptors of the central nervous system.

Non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies.

Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a neurological syndrome that may present in association with cancer, infection, or as an isolate clinical condition often accompanying autoimmune disorders. Here we have characterized the clinical and laboratory features of two patients presenting with subacute onset, and chronic evolution, of anterograde amnesia and drug-resistant epilepsy associated with thyroid autoimmunity and in absence of tumoral pathology despite long follow-up. Antibodies against onconeural antigens, voltage gated potassium channel and glutamate receptors, which may accompany paraneoplastic as well as non-paraneoplastic LE, were negative.

Plasmapheresis therapy in pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid.

Blistering dermatitises are characterized by the presence of blisters that begin owing to acantholysis (intraepidermic blister) such as pemphigus vulgaris (PV) or owing to dermoepidermic detachment (subepidermic blister) such as bullous pemphigoid (BP). Both diseases are autoimmune pathologies characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against specific adhesion molecules of the skin and mucous membranes. PV, in which oral lesions are always present, has a progressive course that, if the disease is not treated, nearly always brings to death from sepsis within a few years.