T1w/T2w Ratio Identifies the Basolateral Amygdala as a Preferential Target in Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The amygdala plays a key role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune limbic encephalitis (ALE), contributing to epileptic seizures and neuropsychiatric symptoms. While no study has examined microstructural changes in individual amygdala nuclei in ALE, we used the T1-weighted/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratio to explore amygdalar pathology and its associations with clinical manifestations, including epilepsy and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

METHODS

This single-center study examined 57 patients diagnosed with ALE and 16 healthy controls (HC). Patients underwent a comprehensive assessment that included clinical, electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychological assessments. Patients were stratified by epileptic focus based on long-term EEG. T1w/T2w ratio and volumetric measures of the amygdala and its nuclei were analyzed and correlated with epileptic focus and neuropsychiatric outcomes.

RESULTS

EEG revealed 26 left temporal, 26 bitemporal, and five right temporal epileptic foci. The T1w/T2w ratio in the left amygdala was markedly reduced in patients with left temporal (p = 0.013) and bitemporal (p = 0.018) epileptic foci compared to HC. This reduction was most pronounced in the left basolateral complex (p = 0.011). Whereas amygdalar volumes were similar between patients and HC, exploratory analyses showed an increased volume of the left lateral nucleus in left temporal ALE (p = 0.036). Furthermore, we found no correlations between MRI measures and neuropsychiatric scores.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the basolateral complex of the amygdala is preferentially affected in ALE, suggesting a region-specific vulnerability to autoimmune-mediated inflammation. T1w/T2w ratio alterations reflect the epileptogenic focus and may serve as a clinically accessible, noninvasive biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring in ALE.