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Manto M, Hadjivassiliou M, Baizabal-Carvallo JF, Hampe CS, Honnorat J, Joubert B, Mitoma H, Muñiz-Castrillo S, Shaikh AG, Vogrig A. Consensus Paper: Latent Autoimmune Cerebellar Ataxia (LACA). CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:838-855. [PMID: 36991252 PMCID: PMC10060034 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01550-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs) have diverse etiologies. Patients with IMCAs develop cerebellar symptoms, characterized mainly by gait ataxia, showing an acute or subacute clinical course. We present a novel concept of latent autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (LACA), analogous to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). LADA is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes where patients are often initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sole biomarker (serum anti-GAD antibody) is not always present or can fluctuate. However, the disease progresses to pancreatic beta-cell failure and insulin dependency within about 5 years. Due to the unclear autoimmune profile, clinicians often struggle to reach an early diagnosis during the period when insulin production is not severely compromised. LACA is also characterized by a slowly progressive course, lack of obvious autoimmune background, and difficulties in reaching a diagnosis in the absence of clear markers for IMCAs. The authors discuss two aspects of LACA: (1) the not manifestly evident autoimmunity and (2) the prodromal stage of IMCA's characterized by a period of partial neuronal dysfunction where non-specific symptoms may occur. In order to achieve an early intervention and prevent cell death in the cerebellum, identification of the time-window before irreversible neuronal loss is critical. LACA occurs during this time-window when possible preservation of neural plasticity exists. Efforts should be devoted to the early identification of biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, morphological (brain morphometry), and multimodal biomarkers allowing early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention and to avoid irreversible neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Jerome Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Institut NeuroMyoGene MELIS INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bastien Joubert
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Institut NeuroMyoGene MELIS INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | - Aasef G Shaikh
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alberto Vogrig
- Clinical Neurology, Udine University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Wu S, Ding Y. Type 1 diabetes and the risk of epilepsy: A meta-analysis. J Diabetes Investig 2024; 15:364-373. [PMID: 38111326 PMCID: PMC10906018 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.14126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION An overrepresentation of epilepsy has been suggested in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate if type 1 diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Longitudinal observational studies which are relevant to the purpose of the meta-analysis were screened and obtained by searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Random-effects models were used when significant heterogeneity was observed; otherwise, fixed-effects models were used. RESULTS Six observational studies involving 10 datasets of 8,001,899 participants were included, with six datasets including children and only one dataset including older people. Among them, 100,414 (1.25%) had type 1 diabetes. During the follow-up duration of 5.4-15.2 years (mean: 9.5 years), 98,644 cases (1.23%) of epilepsy were observed. Compared with participants with normoglycemia, those with type 1 diabetes were shown to have a higher incidence of epilepsy (risk ratio [RR]: 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.69-3.44, P < 0.001; I2 = 95%) after adjustment of potential confounding variables including age and sex. Subgroup analysis showed consistent results in nested case-control and retrospective cohort studies, and in studies of children, non-elderly adult, and older participants (P for subgroup difference = 0.42 and 0.07). In addition, a stronger association of type 1 diabetes and epilepsy was suggested in studies with follow-up duration <10 years compared with those ≥10 years (RR: 3.34 vs 1.61, P for subgroup difference < 0.001). CONCLUSION Patients with type 1 diabetes may have a higher risk of epilepsy, which was mainly driven by datasets including children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Wu
- Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yanan Ding
- Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China
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Musso G, Zoccarato M, Gallo N, Padoan A, Cosma C, Zuliani L, De Gaspari P, Pegoraro E, Plebani M, Basso D. Analytical evaluation of a GAD65 antibodies chemiluminescence immunoassay for CSF in neurological syndromes. Clin Chem Lab Med 2023; 61:1802-1807. [PMID: 37114858 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2023-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform 65 (GAD-Ab) have been found in different severe neurological conditions associated with altered synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Serum GAD-Ab can be found in up to 90 % of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), mostly at relatively low concentrations, while high concentrations of GAD-ab are thought to be more frequently associate to a neurological condition, with levels 100-folds higher than those found in T1DM. Although CSF testing is recommended when suspecting a GAD-associated neurological syndrome, no commercial immunoassay is validated for this use and no cut-off is internationally recognized to support the diagnosis. METHODS In this study we validated CSF testing of GAD-Ab on an automated chemiluminescence (CLIA) immunoassay that had previously shown good agreement with ELISA on serum. RESULTS We tested 43 CSF from patients with typical GAD-associated neurological disorders and patients with other neurological conditions, identifying a clinical cut-off of 18 kIU/L that discriminated GAD-disease with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.921. CLIA showed good analytical performances on repeatability and recovery tests in CSF and confirmed an excellent agreement with ELISA. CONCLUSIONS GAD-Ab associated neurological disorders are rare but CSF testing for GAD-Ab is a common request for neurologists when suspecting an insidious autoimmune central nervous system disease. CLIA platforms are expected to be increasingly adopted in clinical laboratories due to their flexibility and reliability, therefore studies on decisional levels should be implemented for improving the interpretation and utilization of laboratory data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Musso
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Zoccarato
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Gallo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Padoan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Cosma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
- QI.LAB.MED, Spin-off of the University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luigi Zuliani
- Department of Neurology, Ospedale San Bortolo, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Piera De Gaspari
- Neuroimmunology Group, Pediatric Research Institute "Città della Speranza", Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- QI.LAB.MED, Spin-off of the University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniela Basso
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Kuang Z, Baizabal-Carvallo JF, Mofatteh M, Xie S, Pan M, Ye J, Zhou L, Yang S, Wang Z, Chen Y, Li Y. Meningoencephalitis associated with GAD65 autoimmunity. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1120894. [PMID: 36969186 PMCID: PMC10035530 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1120894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundEncephalitis has been recognized in patients with autoimmunity related to the 65-kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) antibodies; however, patients with meningoencephalitis associated with those antibodies have been rarely identified in the medical literature. We aimed to define the frequency, clinical features, response to therapy, and functional outcomes of patients with meningoencephalitis associated with GAD antibodies.MethodsWe retrospectively studied consecutive patients attending a tertiary care center for evaluation of an autoimmune neurological disorder from January 2018 to June 2022. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess the functional outcome at the last follow-up.ResultsWe evaluated 482 patients with confirmed autoimmune encephalitis during the study period. Four among the 25 patients with encephalitis related to GAD65 antibodies were identified. One patient was excluded owing to the coexistence of NMDAR antibodies. Three male patients aged 36, 24, and 16 years had an acute (n = 1) or subacute (n = 2) onset of confusion, psychosis, cognitive symptoms, seizures, or tremor. No patient had fever or clinical signs of meningeal irritation. Mild pleocytosis (<100 leukocytes/106) was identified in two patients, whereas one patient had normal CSF. Following immunotherapy with corticosteroids (n = 3) or intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 1), significant improvement was observed in all three cases, achieving a good outcome (mRS 1) in all cases.ConclusionMeningoencephalitis is an uncommon presentation of GAD65 autoimmunity. Patients present with signs of encephalitis but with meningeal enhancement and have good outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuying Kuang
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - José Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo
- Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato, León, Mexico
| | - Mohammad Mofatteh
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sifen Xie
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqiu Pan
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlong Ye
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuiquang Yang
- Department of Neurology, Foshan Sanshui District People’s Hospital, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhanhang Wang
- Department of Neurology, GuangDong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yimin Chen, ; Zhanhang Wang, ; Yaqin Li,
| | - Yimin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Foshan Sanshui District People’s Hospital, Foshan, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Yimin Chen, ; Zhanhang Wang, ; Yaqin Li,
| | - Yaqin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Yimin Chen, ; Zhanhang Wang, ; Yaqin Li,
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Brodell JD, Sulovari A, Bernstein DN, Mongiovi PC, Ciafaloni E, Rubery PT, Mesfin A. Dropped Head Syndrome: An Update on Etiology and Surgical Management. JBJS Rev 2021; 8:e0068. [PMID: 32105239 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.rvw.19.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
» Dropped head syndrome is a group of disorders with diverse etiologies involving different anatomical components of the neck, ultimately resulting in a debilitating, flexible, anterior curvature of the cervical spine.
» Causes of dropped head syndrome include myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, radiation therapy, and cumulative age-related changes. Idiopathic cases have also been reported.
» Nonoperative treatment of dropped head syndrome includes orthotic bracing and physical therapy.
» Surgical treatment of dropped head syndrome consists of cervical spine fusion to correct the deformity.
» The limited data available examining the clinical and radiographic outcomes of surgical intervention indicate a higher rate of complications with the majority having favorable outcomes in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Brodell
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation (J.D.B., A.S., D.N.B., P.T.R., and A.M.) and Neurology (P.C.M. and E.C.), University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
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6
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Graus F, Saiz A, Dalmau J. GAD antibodies in neurological disorders — insights and challenges. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 16:353-365. [DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-0359-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Baizabal-Carvallo JF. The neurological syndromes associated with glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies. J Autoimmun 2019; 101:35-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies: a case report. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:1303-1306. [PMID: 30635801 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-3701-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Abstract
The notion of immunological pathways playing a role in the etiology of a subset of psychotic disorders has received increased interest in the last decades. One of the findings that has spiked interest herein, is an apparent link between autoimmune diseases and psychotic disorders. This is supported by genetic findings associating immune-related genetic markers with schizophrenia and clinical studies finding increased levels of inflammatory markers in patients with psychosis. Several large-scale epidemiologic studies have found positive associations between autoimmune diseases and psychosis. Particularly, autoimmune diseases as multiple sclerosis and lupus are known to have higher frequencies of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including psychosis, compared to healthy controls. Cross sectional studies have found higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses among those with autoimmune diseases, and longitudinal studies have shown bidirectional associations between several autoimmune diseases and increased risks associated with schizophrenia. Moreover, a family history of autoimmune diseases has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of psychotic disorders and vice versa. In this review we will summarize the epidemiologic evidence on associations between autoimmune diseases and psychosis. Possible mechanisms accountable for the association will be discussed, amongst others the probable role of shared genetic risk factors, the impact of infections on both autoimmunity and the development of psychotic disorders, and the potential role of the microbiome. We discuss the findings on and influence of autoantibodies and dysregulation of T- and B-cells in both disease categories, and why further research hereon is needed. In addition to the potential importance of autoimmunity in etiological mechanisms of psychotic disorders, the association also brings important attention to somatic comorbidity in patients with psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Jeppesen
- Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
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10
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Chinello M, Mauro M, Cantalupo G, Balter R, De Bortoli M, Vitale V, Zaccaron A, Bonetti E, Gaudino R, Fiorini E, Cesaro S. Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) and Cerebellar Hypoplasia as Atypical Features of Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type I (APS-1): Two Sisters With the Same AIRE Mutation but Different Phenotypes. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:51. [PMID: 30863741 PMCID: PMC6399394 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type I is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disease. We describe a child with the classic triad of the disease and her sister with pure red cell aplasia and cerebellar hypoplasia. The latter received two haematopoietic stem cell transplantations, complicated by an acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Chinello
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Margherita Mauro
- Mother and Child Department, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Rita Balter
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Virginia Vitale
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Ada Zaccaron
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Bonetti
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Rossella Gaudino
- Pediatric Division, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Fiorini
- Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Cesaro
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
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Baizabal-Carvallo JF, Alonso-Juarez M. Vertical nystagmus associated with glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies responding to cyclophosphamide. J Neuroimmunol 2018; 317:5-7. [PMID: 29501085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Several neurological disorders have been described in patients with autoimmunity associated with GAD antibodies. Among these disorders, nystagmus and oculomotor dysfunction are increasingly recognized, although they have been rarely reported isolated or as the main manifestation of anti-GAD autoimmunity. Moreover, therapeutic approaches for such patients are unclear. Here we present a 44-year-old man with disabling oscillopsia secondary to downbeat nystagmus, abnormal saccades, ocular pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus, as well as mild gait ataxia and cerebellar atrophy associated with high serum GAD antibodies with intrathecal secretion of such antibodies. The patient did not have clinical benefit with plasma exchange, but had a robust symptomatic improvement with cyclophosphamide. We discuss the possible pathogenic role of GAD antibodies in nystagmus and the role of immunotherapy in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo
- Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; University of Guanajuato, Mexico.
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12
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Autoimmune and paraneoplastic movement disorders: An update. J Neurol Sci 2017; 385:175-184. [PMID: 29406902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Movement disorders (MDs) are common in patients with autoimmune disorders affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. They may be observed in autoimmune disorders triggered by an infectious agent, such as streptococcus in Sydenham's chorea, or in basal ganglia encephalitis with antibodies against the dopamine-D2 receptors. In these patients chorea or dystonia are usually the most prominent hyperkinetic MDs. MDs are also observed in patients with diffuse or limbic encephalitis with antibodies directed against neuronal cell-surface antigens. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is one of the most common and may present with a variety of MDs, including: chorea, stereotypies, dystonia and myorhythmia. The recognition of other abnormal motor phenomena such as "faciobrachial dystonic seizures" and neuromyotonia, observed in patients with LGI1 and Caspr-2 antibodies, is important because they may herald the onset of overt limbic encephalitis. Autoimmunity directed against the intracellular enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase usually presents with MDs, most commonly stiff-person syndrome or cerebellar ataxia. Chorea may be observed in rheumatologic disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome. Disorders with uncertain autoimmune mechanisms such as Hashimoto's encephalitis and idiopathic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome commonly present with tremor, myoclonus and ataxia. A rapid diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder, which typically presents with subacute onset, is critical as early therapeutic intervention improves long-term prognosis and may be life-saving. Treatment usually involves some form of immunotherapy and symptomatic therapy of the abnormal movements with dopamine depleters, dopamine receptor antagonists, or GABAergic drugs. Detection and removal of an underlying tumor is essential for optimal outcome.
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Abstract
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to assess the evidence behind treatment regimens for cerebellar ataxias occurring in the context of systemic disease. We will address systemic conditions which are associated with specific involvement of the cerebellum (rather than widespread nervous system involvement) and those conditions for which some degree of evidence of treatment response exists. Recent findings We have divided systemic disorders affecting the cerebellum into systemic immunological disorders, endocrine and metabolic disorders and paraneoplastic. Recent studies have increased understanding of the range of cerebellar disorders associated with a systemic immunological condition. The identification of newer pathogenic antibodies has improved diagnosis in conditions which would have previously been labelled as idiopathic. However, their rarity and phenotypic variability makes defining optimal immunomodulatory treatment regimens challenging. There is some evidence for beneficial effects of immunomodulation, particularly in anti-GAD ataxia and Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, although, at this time, specific treatment regimens cannot be defined. Immune-mediated paraneoplastic cerebellar disorders show response to therapy dependent, to some extent, on the underlying pathogenic antibody. Much is still to be understood concerning treatment regimens for the ataxic manifestations of metabolic disorders, notably alcohol-induced cerebellar injury, which are common and which are associated with significant disability. Summary Despite their rarity, cerebellar ataxias occurring in the context of systemic disease cause significant morbidity and better therapies are required to improve outcomes associated with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Proudfoot
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Alastair Wilkins
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK.
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