Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis

Abstract Background Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibodies are associated with a limbic encephalitis syndrome characterized by faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDSs) that is responsive to immunotherapy. The precise pathophysiology, neural origins, and underlying mechanisms of FBDS rema...

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Main Authors: Wendeng Xu, Wei Zhang, Xiaofeng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Neurology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04311-4
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author Wendeng Xu
Wei Zhang
Xiaofeng Zhang
author_facet Wendeng Xu
Wei Zhang
Xiaofeng Zhang
author_sort Wendeng Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibodies are associated with a limbic encephalitis syndrome characterized by faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDSs) that is responsive to immunotherapy. The precise pathophysiology, neural origins, and underlying mechanisms of FBDS remain incompletely understood. Case report We present a 54-year-old Chinese female patient with LGI1-related isolated FBDS triggered by swallowing. Discussion FBDS in LGI1-antibody encephalitis exhibit overlapping features with both paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) and epileptic motor seizures, both in their clinical manifestations and underlying neural mechanisms. This unique intersection suggests that FBDS represents a pathophysiological borderland between epileptic motor seizures and paroxysmal movement disorders, bridging the gap between these two diagnostic categories. Conclusion FBDS triggered by swallowing expands the clinical spectrum of FBDS and provides new insights into its potential reflex mechanisms, offering a valuable insight for future research into its pathophysiology.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1471-2377
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Neurology
spelling doaj-art-0c4cc3b059d84ea0a6456a2f46c1f76a2025-08-20T03:05:04ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772025-07-012511510.1186/s12883-025-04311-4Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitisWendeng Xu0Wei Zhang1Xiaofeng Zhang2Department of Neurology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Background Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibodies are associated with a limbic encephalitis syndrome characterized by faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDSs) that is responsive to immunotherapy. The precise pathophysiology, neural origins, and underlying mechanisms of FBDS remain incompletely understood. Case report We present a 54-year-old Chinese female patient with LGI1-related isolated FBDS triggered by swallowing. Discussion FBDS in LGI1-antibody encephalitis exhibit overlapping features with both paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) and epileptic motor seizures, both in their clinical manifestations and underlying neural mechanisms. This unique intersection suggests that FBDS represents a pathophysiological borderland between epileptic motor seizures and paroxysmal movement disorders, bridging the gap between these two diagnostic categories. Conclusion FBDS triggered by swallowing expands the clinical spectrum of FBDS and provides new insights into its potential reflex mechanisms, offering a valuable insight for future research into its pathophysiology.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04311-4LGI1 antibodyFBDSEncephalitis
spellingShingle Wendeng Xu
Wei Zhang
Xiaofeng Zhang
Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
BMC Neurology
LGI1 antibody
FBDS
Encephalitis
title Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
title_full Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
title_fullStr Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
title_full_unstemmed Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
title_short Faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in LGI1 encephalitis
title_sort faciobrachial dystonic seizure can be triggered by swallowing in lgi1 encephalitis
topic LGI1 antibody
FBDS
Encephalitis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04311-4
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AT weizhang faciobrachialdystonicseizurecanbetriggeredbyswallowinginlgi1encephalitis
AT xiaofengzhang faciobrachialdystonicseizurecanbetriggeredbyswallowinginlgi1encephalitis