Hashimoto Encephalopathy

Abstract

An acute encephalopathy of unknown cause that typically presents with symptoms of impaired mental status, somnolence, multiple stroke-like episodes, and seizures was previously termed “Hashimoto encephalopathy” because many affected patients were found to have positive antithyroid antibodies in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid. However, the encephalopathy does not appear to be related to thyroid antibodies or to thyroid dysfunction but does respond well to glucocorticoid therapy. Therefore, the term “Hashimoto encephalopathy” is discouraged, and the condition is now more accurately referred to as steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (SREAAT).