Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy

Abstract

Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy (HE) is a rare condition associated with Hashimoto’s disease. HE is seen mostly in women. Researchers considered HE to consist of two sub types. HE is diagnosed in patients with neurological findings (generalized seizures, myoclonus, ataxia, cognitive disorders, focal neurological disorders), by looking at the high titers of antithyroid antibodies and abnormal thyroid functioning tests, nonspecific EEG changes, nonspecific white matter changes and elevated CSF protein. There are serious positive evidences supporting an autoimmune etiology for the disease (more frequent in women, dramatic response is given to steroid treatment, seen concomitantly with other autoimmune diseases). The other
pathologies that cause central nervous system vasculitis should be eliminated. The clinical, laboratory and biochemical findings support the presence of an underlying autoimmune event in patients with encephalopathy in association with autoimmune thyroid disease. Therefore, a good respond to treatments regulating the immune system are expected. If no specific etiology has been established in patients with acute and subacute encephalopathy, neurologic findings in these patients should be considered to be related to autoimmune thyroiditis. In Hashimoto’s encephalopathy diagnosis and treatment commences when the disease is first suspected.