[RC_ITR]

I also wonder if just that microglia are activated during chemo. Maybe this is just the most useful case of 'chemo brain' ever.

[pitpatagain]

The article is mostly about how there are now recognized to be certain schizophrenia-like conditions that are clearly autoimmune diseases. Mentioned in the article are anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis, which responds to immunotherapy, and a previously published case of a woman mid-diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia fully recovering after being treated for lupus with immunosuppressive therapy.

Based on this, the article suggests that the rituximab Mary was given along with chemo was the key. However, they were unable to test conclusively for antibody evidence of this theory after the fact.

[mgh95]

I have a family member with an incidence of autoimmune encephalitis secondary to other conditions (my entire family is an autoimmune cluster) who is actually hospitalized for it now. This almost matches my experience to a tee, though anti-NMDAR was tested for and not found. The neurologists wanted to discharge prior to attempting immunotherapy and thankfully we were able to ensure they tried (pulse steroids).

It's certainly an area which can be characterized as rare disease, whether paraneoplastic or otherwise.

[hinkley]

Probably why we keep looking at electroconvulsive ‘therapy’ again and again. Triggering the body’s systems to do something often cleans up other situations at the same time.

There was a phenomenon where sometimes a high fever would cure STDs like syphilis. We generally use antibiotics now that we have them, because they are less dangerous.

[peterfirefly]

> would cure STDs like syphilis.

And sometimes certain cancers.