Steroid-Sensitive Encephalopathy Associated With Autoimmune Thyroiditis (SREAT): Case Report

Abstract

Background: Steroid-responsive Encephalopathy Associated with Autoimmune Thyroiditis (SREAT) is a rare, controversial and underdiagnosed entity characterized by an acute or subacute onset of encephalopathy. It is a diagnosis of exclusion with supporting criteria that include high titers of anti-thyroid antibodies, a history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and a good response to steroids. Case report: An 18-year-old female patient with hypothyroidism and episode of change in behavior, hallucinations and episodes of generalized tonic-clonic movements, normal skull tomography, cerebrospinal fluid with pleocytosis without signs of infection and positive anti-thyroid antibodies with adequate response to management with steroids Conclusion: We considered SERAT as an entity that needs to be rediscovered as it has conflicting results that question if it is a syndrome or a myth. The literature is especially lacking in Colombia where there are not many published cases.