Daratumumab Treatment in Severe Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis: Two Case Reports and Literature Review.
Nady Ammar, Marjolaine Uginet, Pia De Stefano et al.
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Case in brief
Two patients, aged 21 and 19, presented with severe anti-NMDAR encephalitis, exhibiting neuropsychiatric symptoms, seizures, and dysautonomia. Both required ICU care and did not improve after multiple immunotherapies. Daratumumab was administered 40 and 14 weeks post-onset, leading to significant clinical improvement and eventual functional independence, as indicated by a modified Rankin Scale score of 0.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Daratumumab may offer a therapeutic option for severe anti-NMDAR encephalitis in cases unresponsive to standard immunotherapies.
Why it matters
This case highlights the potential role of plasma cell-targeted therapies in managing severe autoimmune encephalitides, warranting further investigation into their efficacy and safety.