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Behavioural disturbance requiring medical referral: A case of anti‐ N ‐methyl‐ D ‐aspartate receptor encephalitis in the emergency department
Author(s) -
Hegarty Cherie P,
Mikli Jane E
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/1742-6723.12015
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , encephalitis , emergency department , disturbance (geology) , autoimmune encephalitis , pediatrics , psychiatry , family medicine , immunology , paleontology , virus , biology
A 17‐year‐old woman presented to the ED with behavioural disturbance and psychotic features. Brief dystonic jerks were noted so she was referred to the medical team. A diagnosis of anti‐ N ‐methyl‐ D ‐aspartate receptor encephalitis was made. Immunotherapy was instituted early and the clinical outcome was excellent. It is important to consider this condition in young women presenting with acute behavioural or psychotic symptoms.