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An increasingly well understood cause of meningitis are auto-immune conditions. Autoimmune conditions such as lupus are well known to cause inflammation of the central nervous system. However, previously unidentified causes of meningitis, which were suspected to be viral, are being identified as auto-immune conditions related to certain antibodies, which attack the nervous system. These conditions can be identified with specialized testing from the spinal fluid and blood. Once the antibody is identified, then immune modulating treatments, such as intravenous immunoglobulin, can be given. In some cases, immune suppression medications such as corticosteroids are needed to control the inflammation related to this auto-immune process. While we don’t completely understand what triggers this autoimmune process, we are increasingly identifying this as a cause of meningitis. In the past, such cases of meningitis where we do not identify an organism or a cause were often attributed to viruses because they are so common. However, with improved diagnostic techniques and testing, we’ve been able to identify increasing numbers of antibodies which are associated with meningitis.
