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Psychotic episode associated with autoimmune limbic encephalitis in a patient treated with checkpoint inhibitors: a case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

P. Sánchez Díez*
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain
C. Blanes Morell
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain
J. Torres Cortés
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are being used in patients with advanced malignancies. Although it can effectively treat tumors, 30–60% of patients could experience immune-related adverse events such as encephalitis with antibodies against the NMDA receptor.

We present a case of a 57-years-old man with no prior mental health history who was diagnosed of kidney cancer and received treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. He developed incoherent speech, visual hallucinations, delusional megalomania, disorientation, sleepiness and a low-grade fever of 37.7ºC. He was admitted in Neurology unit and diagnosed of autoimmune limbic encephalitis in a patient treated with checkpoint inhibitors.

Objectives

To describe a case of a psychotic episode associated with autoimmune limbic encephalitis in a patient treated with checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods

Clinical assesment and bibliographic review of pertinent literature.

Results

During his admission in Neurology ward, the patient was suspicious, inattentive, aggressive with healthcare staff and he developed incoherent speech with visual hallucinations.

MRI suggested bilateral limbic encephalitis and the antibody test in cerebrospinal fluid were positive for NMDA receptor.

The psychotic episode was treated with olanzapine up to 20 milligrams and the limbic encephalitis with rituximab with a good response.

Conclusions

The case presented is consistent with other reports of psychotic symptoms and development of encephalitis associated with antibodies against the NMDA receptor.

The diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis is usually delayed.

The differential diagnosis should be established with primary psychiatric disorders.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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