Autoimmune encephalopathy
Diagnosing an increasingly recognized condition
Many cases of encephalopathy previously considered infectious are now recognized to have an autoimmune cause. In fact, based on a recent Mayo Clinic study, autoimmune encephalitis was found to be as common as infectious encephalitis.1 Our full suite of encephalopathy testing includes comprehensive evaluations, targeted antibody testing, and complementary assays to pinpoint causes and facilitate personalized therapy selection.
Autoimmune encephalopathy Test menu
Encephalopathy
Our comprehensive autoimmune encephalopathy evaluation is part of an evolving approach to testing for autoimmune neurological disorders using phenotype-specific evaluations that include multiple antibodies known for their disease association.
Key testing
- ENC2 | Encephalopathy, Autoimmune/Paraneoplastic Evaluation, Spinal Fluid
- ENS2 | Encephalopathy, Autoimmune/Paraneoplastic Evaluation, Serum
Advantages
- Evaluates for 25+ antibodies with known association to autoimmune encephalopathy.
- Facilitates diagnosis of autoimmune causes of new onset encephalopathy.
- Evaluates for encephalopathy appearing during or after cancer therapy that is not explainable by metastasis or drug effect.
- Results direct a focused search for cancer.
- Provides reliable confirmation of GABA-A receptor-associated disease without the need for reflex testing.
- Uses ELISA to detect Ma2 antibodies
- Also includes testing for KLHL11 antibodies
Highlights
Find out how our autoimmune/paraneoplastic encephalopathy evaluations can identify multiple antibodies and guide the search for occult cancer.
Learn how GFAP testing is emerging as a biomarker to support diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis in neurological diseases.
Learn how our autoimmune/paraneoplastic evaluation for encephalopathy uses CSF testing to confirm an autoimmune GFAP meningoencephalomyelitis diagnosis.
Learn more about how our movement disorders testing can help diagnose testicular cancer-associated paraneoplastic encephalitis.
Learn how a phenotype-specific autoimmune neurology evaluation diagnosed a treatable autoimmune encephalitis condition that was missed with a traditional paraneoplastic evaluation.
In this presentation, Eoin Flanagan, M.B., B.Ch., a leading specialist in neuroimmunology at Mayo Clinic, provides a clear and clinically focused overview of autoimmune conditions that affect the developing nervous system.
November 3, 2025 - In this video, Dr. Andrew McKeon describes how the field of autoimmune neurology testing has changed with the explosion of antibody discovery and discusses the importance of a patient-first, phenotype-based approach.
Anastasia Zekeridou, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' updated panels and methodology boost the accuracy and efficiency of testing for three autoimmune neurology biomarkers. Early diagnosis is key to managing debilitating conditions associated with these antibodies.
Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique PDE10A and TRIM46 tests facilitate the management of central nervous system disorders triggered by cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for managing disabling neurological symptoms and malignancy.
In this “Hot Topic,” Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., associate professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and neurology at Mayo Clinic, discusses various clinical and paraclinical features of autoimmune encephalitis, autoimmune seizures, and epilepsy.
Sean Pittock, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' novel Ma2 test aids diagnosis of autoimmune neurology disorders that are often caused by underlying cancer. Rapid diagnosis is key to preventing significant disability and disease.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ comprehensive approach to targeted antibody testing played a crucial and lifesaving role in moving Sheila Lewis to recovery from autoimmune encephalitis.
References
- Dubey, D., Pittock, S.J., Kelly, C.R., et al. Autoimmune encephalitis epidemiology and a comparison to infectious encephalitis. Ann Neurol. 83: 166-177. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25131