Acupuncture treatment for anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A case report.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare disease and common type of autoimmune encephalitis. The prognosis of patients with comorbid disorders of consciousness is poor, and no such acupuncture treatment has been reported. We report a case of acupuncture in anti-NMDAR encephalitis with a high cerebrospinal fluid titer combined with impaired consciousness. PATIENT CONCERNS A 13-year-old girl with anti-NMDAR encephalitis presented to our hospital with impaired consciousness. DIAGNOSES Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. According to the Chinese medicine theory, the diagnosis was Shenhun(phlegm obstructs the clear orifices). INTERVENTIONS: Depending on the patient's condition, we used the Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture therapeutic method. OUTCOMES: After 16 weeks of acupuncture treatment, the patient awoke and resumed a normal life with no recurrence at one-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrated that acupuncture can be used as a complementary and alternative treatment for anti-NMDAR encephalitis.