Open AccessAnti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis and Its Anesthetic Implications
Author(s) -
Peter Pryzbylkowski,
W. Jonathan Dunkman,
Renyu Liu,
Linda Chen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0b013e31822b8a7d
Subject(s) - nmda receptor , medicine , encephalitis , anti nmda receptor encephalitis , anesthetic , hypoventilation , anesthesia , psychosis , glutamate receptor , receptor , pharmacology , psychiatry , immunology , virus , respiratory system
We describe the anesthetic management and implications of 2 patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a neurological disorder caused by production of antibodies to the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptor is the target of many drugs used in anesthesia. It is important to understand the pharmacologic interactions these anesthetics have with a disabled NMDA receptor while preparing an anesthetic plan for patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Symptoms of the disease such as psychosis, paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, and central hypoventilation pose risks to the induction and maintenance of anesthesia in these patients.