Postvaccinal GABA‐B receptor antibody encephalitis after ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccination

Abstract

Abstract Several cases of autoimmune encephalitis have been reported after ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 (AZD1222) vaccination. We encountered a male patient who presented with generalized tonic‐clonic seizures, cognitive decline, and gait disturbance that occurred suddenly after the second dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine. Clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test results were compatible with limbic encephalitis. Synaptic autoantibody tests confirmed serum and CSF GABA B receptor antibodies were present. The patient was treated with immunotherapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab. This GABA‐B receptor antibody encephalitis case occurred presumably due to transient autoantibody production following vaccine administration.