Identification and Treatment of Autoimmune Epilepsy - Webinar

Our body’s immune system is what protects our body against harmful substances. Autoimmune encephalitis is a term that refers to conditions that occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells, leading to inflammation of the brain. Antibodies may target different brain receptors which impact the type of autoimmune encephalitis. Symptoms may include memory loss, cognition problems, impaired speech, and seizures.1

Autoimmune epilepsy is important to diagnose because one of the hallmarks of this condition is that it does not generally respond to typical anti-seizure medications. Immunotherapy is often used to treat people with this condition, by reducing inflammation in the brain.

This webinar will help viewers understand the difference between paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalopathies and the difference between acute symptomatic seizures related to autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune associated epilepsy. Viewers learn about the characteristics and pathophysiological mechanisms of autoimmune encephalitis, when to suspect autoimmune related seizures and epilepsy, and the algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalopathies.


About the Speaker:
Dr. Stephen VanHaerents is an Assistant Professor in Neurology and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. His practice focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy with particular emphasis on the treatment of medically intractable seizures. His clinical research interests include neurostimulation, identification and treatment of Autoimmune-Associated Epilepsy, and New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE). Additionally, Dr. VanHaerents is deeply invested in medical education and currently serves as the Director of Medical Student Education in Neurology. He also serves as the Co-Chair for the Neurology and Neurosurgery Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine.