Rare presentation of anti-GAD-65 antibody-positive autoimmune encephalitis and simultaneous onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in a paediatric patient

Abstract

A 16-year-old female patient presented with subacute onset of headaches, changes in acute mental status, expressive aphasia and auditory hallucinations. New oedema and enhancement of the temporal lobe were seen on brain MRI, with correlating subclinical seizures seen on electroencephalogram. Simultaneously, our patient was diagnosed with new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus, with positive anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD-65) antibodies in the serum. Cerebrospinal fluid studies remained negative, including anti-GAD-65 antibodies. Clinical remission was achieved with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins.