Limbic encephalitis associated with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

We report the case of a patient affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) who developed autoimmune limbic encephalitis, which improved under immunosuppressant agents and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins. In our patient the autoimmune encephalitis occurred during apparently quiescent SSc, though concomitantly with novel arthritis. Moreover, our patient showed auto-antibodies directed against SSA antigen but the panel of auto-antibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis was negative. We discuss the potential for immunopathogenic inflammatory events affecting the central nervous system in SSc then favoring the occurrence of autoimmune encephalitic disorders. The possibility of a "neuro-scleroderma" may have important consequences in terms of therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Antibody-negative; Autoimmune encephalitis; Epilepsy; Immunotherapy; Systemic sclerosis.