Title: Beware anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis mimicking NMS<br/>Author: Bryan Hayes<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/369/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Toxicologists should be aware of non-toxicological mimics of delirium, including anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. It is an under-recognized progressive neurological disorder caused by antibodies against NMDA receptors.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Cases often present with altered mental status, autonomic instability, increased muscle tone, and movement disorders. It can easily be mistaken for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A new case series describes two such patients for which toxicologists were consulted.</span></p>
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<u>Must read links</u>:</p>
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<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Dr. Leon Gussow provides a great review of the case series on his <a href="http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2013/08/28/must-read-anti-nmda-receptor-encephalitis/">Poison Review blog</a>.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Dr. Chris Nickson reviews the basics of the disease on the <a href="http://lifeinthefastlane.com/education/ccc/anti-nmda-receptor-encephalitis/">Life in the Fast Lane blog</a>.</span></p>
<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis: an etiology worth considering in the differential diagnosis of delirium. Clin Toxicol 2013;51(8):794-7. [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23962100">PMID 23962100</a>]</p>
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