The following inflammatory brain disorders without (apparent) infectious origin are frequently associated with focal epileptic seizures: Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE), limbic encephalitis (LE), anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis, and steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT, formerly called,Hashimoto's encephalopathy"). Pathogenetic concepts and diagnostic criteria for these disorders and syndromes are emerging. However, there is still no reliable evidence regarding the best possible therapy. In this situation, recommendations can only be derived from case studies and from pathogenetic considerations.