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- Title
steroid-Responsive Chronic schizophreniform syndrome in the Context of Mildly Increased antithyroid peroxidase antibodies.
- Authors
Endres, Dominique; Perlov, Evgeniy; Riering, Anne Nicole; Maier, Viktoria; Stich, Oliver; Dersch, Rick; Venhoff, Nils; Erny, Daniel; Mader, Irina; van Elst, Ludger Tebartz
- Abstract
Background: Schizophreniform syndromes can be divided into primary forms from polygenic causes or secondary forms due to immunological, epileptiform, monogenic, or degenerative causes. Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT) is a secondary immunological form associated with increased thyroid antibodies, such as antithyroid peroxidase antibodies and shows a good response to corticosteroids. Case presentation: We present the case of a 41-year-old woman suffering from a schizophreniform syndrome. Starting at the age of 35, she developed psychotic exac- erbations with formal thought disorder, acoustic hallucinations, cenesthopathic experi- ences, and loss of ego boundaries. At the same time, she began to suffer from chronic sexual delusions and olfactory hallucinations, which did not respond to neuroleptic med- ication. Her levels of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies were slightly increased, and the blood--brain barrier was disturbed. An electroencephalogram (EEG) showed intermittent generalized slowing, and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) depicted mild tem- porolateral atrophy. High-dose corticosteroid treatment led to convincing improvement of attentional performance and the disappearance of delusions and olfactory hallucinations. Conclusion: SREAT can mimic typical symptoms of schizophreniform syndromes. The increased titer of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies in combination with the EEG slowing, blood--brain barrier dysfunction, and the cMRI alterations were the basis for suspecting an immunological cause in our patient. Chronic delusions, olfactory hallucinations, and cognitive defcits were successfully treated with corticosteroids. The occurrence of sec- ondary immunological forms of schizophreniform syndromes demonstrates the need for innovative immunosuppressive treatment options.
- Subjects
SCHIZOPHRENIFORM disorder; SCHIZOPHRENIA; STEROIDS; THYROIDITIS; AUTOIMMUNE thyroiditis; MAGNETIC resonance imaging
- Publication
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2017, Vol 8, p1
- ISSN
1664-0640
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00064