First report of concomitant cryptococcal meningitis and anti-NMDAR encephalitis

Abstract

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder, seen most often in young adults and children, triggered by tumors or infections. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with sarcoidosis, presenting prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms, electroencephalographic features of autoimmune encephalitis and positive anti-NMDAR antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid, raising the hypothesis of an infectious immune-mediated mechanism triggering the production of anti-NMDAR antibodies. Since anti-NMDAR encephalitis is potentially fatal and has significant morbidity, further descriptions of its etiological associations are essential to early identification and prompt treatment.

Keywords

• Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor
• Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor encephalitis
• Cryptococcosis
• Cryptococcal meningitis
• Cryptococcus neoformans
• Sarcoidosis