Vnitr Lek 2006, 52(10):954-956

Hashimoto's encephalopathy

H. Vondrová

Neurologická klinika IPVZ a Fakultní Thomayerovy nemocnice, Praha, přednosta doc. MUDr. Otakar Keller, CSc.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is not an often complication of autoimmune thyroiditis, usually at the time the patient is already euthyroid i.e. with normal TSH-value but positive antibodies to thyroid hormones. Signs and symptoms are acute or sub-acute, such as cerebrovascular accident, epileptic seizures generalised, myoclonic or partial, cognitive function disorder with dementia and psychical disorders. Pathological findings, even non-specifical, can be found in cerebrospinal fluid, by electroencefalography (EEG) or by brain scan with magnetic resonance (MR). Pathogenesy of the disease is unclear; however, corticoid treatment is usually succesful. Therefore, HE should be taken into consideration after elimination of all other causes of encephalopathy, with thyroiditis in family history in particular.

Keywords: cognitive disorders; epileptic seizures; antibodies to thyroid hormones; corticoid treatment

Received: June 26, 2006; Published: October 1, 2006  Show citation