Rare but Life-Threatening: The Surge in Autoimmune Encephalitis Cases in Vietnam

Cho Ray Hospital has admitted 17 patients with autoimmune encephalitis in the past 18 months, primarily due to antibodies from ovarian teratoma. Four patients have died from the disease. Dr. Le Quoc Hung, Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases at Cho Ray Hospital, highlighted a significant increase in cases over the past eight months, with four cases currently undergoing treatment.

Most patients treated at Cho Ray Hospital are 23 years old on average, with 12 women and five men. Of the six patients with ovarian teratomas treated at Cho Ray Hospital and Hung Vuong Hospital, 82% were admitted in a very serious condition, comatose and experiencing seizures. Dr. Hung emphasized the importance of early and accurate diagnosis to prevent fatalities and minimize treatment costs.

The average cost of treating a patient with autoimmune encephalitis is one billion VND. Surgical intervention was required for six patients with ovarian teratomas treated at Cho Ray Hospital and Hung Vuong Hospital. Despite potential impacts on fertility and endocrine function, patients who underwent surgery showed significant improvements in health soon after the procedure was performed.

Autoimmune encephalitis caused by anti-NMDAR antibodies is a relatively recent discovery, with cases mainly seen in women with ovarian teratomas. The disease attacks nerve cells and can lead to severe brain damage. Dr. Hung stressed the importance of early detection through proper screening, given the disease’s high mortality rate and complex treatment requirements.

Ongoing research is focused on understanding and treating autoimmune encephalitis, with an emphasis on developing national guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. Individuals are encouraged to seek medical attention if they observe behavior changes, memory loss, or unexplained seizures in their loved ones as these could be early signs of the disease.

Autoimmune encephalitis caused by antibodies from ovarian teratoma is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that affects nerve cells in the brain. It is important for individuals to be aware of its symptoms so that they can seek medical attention promptly if necessary.

Dr. Hung highlighted that despite its rarity in Vietnam, there has been a significant increase in cases over the past year alone.

Furthermore, Dr Hung stated that most patients were admitted due to complications such as coma or seizures.

In terms of treatment cost, Dr Hung mentioned that it usually costs around one billion VND per patient.

Dr Hung also noted that surgical intervention was necessary for six out of ten patients who had ovarian teratomas.

It’s worth noting that despite potential side effects such as fertility issues or hormonal imbalances resulting from surgery or chemotherapy treatments used for this condition,

Patients who underwent such treatments showed significant improvements in their health soon after.