Refractory, intensive care–dependent NMDAR encephalitis

Weekly Neurology Deep Dive - A review of recent impactful publications in the field of Neurology · Feb 24, 2026 · 19m

This research study establishes a formal definition for refractory, intensive care–dependent NMDAR encephalitis (RI-NMDARE), identifying it as cases requiring over 90 days of ICU support despite second-line immunotherapy. The authors found that approximately 12% of severe patients fall into this high-risk category, which is characterized by a rapidly progressing disease and a higher prevalence of ovarian teratomas. Clinically, these patients often exhibit a specific triad of seizures, movement disorders, and dysautonomia, alongside elevated biological markers like CSF antibody titers and…