Voltage gated potassium channel antibodies and the awakening.

Encephalopathy associated with the presence of voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies is a rare but increasingly recognised condition that has been associated with a combination of psychological symptoms, memory loss, and seizures, hyponatraemia and chorea. While it is reported that the incidence of new cases is approaching one per million per year in the United Kingdom, the international incidence is unknown. Lumbar puncture biochemistry and magnetic resonance imaging often demonstrate suggestive findings, and the presence of VGKC antibodies in serum is diagnostic. Previously described treatment includes corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, and rituximab. The results of long term follow up are not yet available.We present a case of successful treatment and complete functional recovery of a patient with encephalopathy associated with VGKC antibodies using steroids and rituximab.