Get Web page suited for printing
Email this to a friend or colleague
Studies with patients

Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)

Is there any treatment?
When seizures have not spontaneously remitted by the time hemiplegia and aphasia are complete, the standard treatment for Rasmussen's encephalitis is surgery to remove or disconnect the affected part of the brain (hemispherectomy). Although anti-epileptic drugs may be prescribed initially, they are usually not effective in controlling the seizures. Alternative treatments may include plasmapheresis (the removal and reinfusion of blood plasma), ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate), and steroids.

What is the prognosis?
Prognosis for individuals with Rasmussen's encephalitis varies. Untreated, the disorder may lead to severe neurological deficits including mental retardation and paralysis. In some patients surgery decreases seizures. However, most patients are left with some paralysis and speech deficits.

What research is being done?
The NINDS supports and conducts studies aimed at understanding neurological conditions that can damage the brain such as Rasmussen's encephalitis. The goals of these studies are to find ways to prevent and treat these disorders.