Anti-Ma2-Associated Limbic Encephalitis after Termination of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Abstract

Neurological adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy mostly develop within 3 months after initiation of ICI treatment. An 82-year-old male with malignant pleural mesothelioma developed anti-Ma2-associated limbic encephalitis at a delay of 18 months after the start of nivolumab therapy (3 months after termination of a 15-month course of ICI treatment). Immunotherapy with steroids and immunoglobulins resulted in moderate neurological improvement. Over the next year, malignant pleural mesothelioma gradually worsened, while the anti-Ma2 antibody test remained positive. Anti-Ma2 paraneoplastic encephalitis may occur after a delay following the discontinuation of ICI therapy.

Keywords

• anti-ma2 antibody
• encephalitis
• immune checkpoint inhibitor
• paraneoplastic neurological syndrome
• mesothelioma