- Anti-neuronal antibodies - indications for the test
- Anti-neuronal antibodies - what is the test?
- Anti-neuronal antibodies - research results
Anti-neuronal antibodies are a type of autoantibody that attacks and destroys the nervous system. Therefore, if disturbing neurological symptoms appear, e.g. movement disorders, paresis or symptoms suggesting mental diseases (e.g. personality changes), it is worth testing for the presence of these antibodies in the blood. They will help to answer the question of how the disease can be the cause of the abovementioned symptoms.
Anti-neuronal antibodiesare antibodies that attack and destroy the nervous system. They do not occur in the body of a he althy person, because their presence is the result of a defensive reaction of the immune system. It recognizes neurons and other structures of the nervous system as foreign and treats them as a threat that must be eliminated. The reasons for this process are not fully known. It is only known that the production of this type of autoantibody can be initiated by neoplastic disease. The immune system then produces antibodies to fight the cancer cells. However, sometimes these antibodies also mistakenly attack structures of the nervous system. These areonconeuronal antibodiesand the most common disorders areneurological paraneoplastic syndromes.
Anti-neuronal antibodies - indications for the test
The determination of the concentration of anti-neuronal antibodies is recommended when disturbing symptoms of the nervous system appear, such as muscle weakness, movement disorders, epileptic seizures, speech disorders or confusion and disturbances of consciousness, as well as symptoms suggesting diseases mental disorders, e.g. personality changes, sudden hyperactivity and aggression, hallucinations, delusions, etc.
Anti-neuronal antibodies - what is the test?
The test for the presence of anti-neuronal antibodies consists in taking blood from a vein in the arm and sending it to the laboratory.
Anti-neuronal antibodies - research results
Anti-neuronal antibodies are not present in the blood of a he althy person, therefore their presence suggests disorders of the nervous system (both cancerous and non-cancerous). The list of known anti-neuronal antibodies associated with certain diseases continues to grow. Some of them are very well researched and others less known,unusual.
The first table lists well-defined onconeuronal antibodies (i.e. those that occur in well-described neurological syndromes and are very often associated with the presence of cancer) characterized by their association with neurological paraneoplastic syndromes and the underlying neoplastic disease.
| type of antibodies | nervous system disease | cancer |
| anti-Hu |
|
less often - non-small cell lung carcinoma, prostate cancer or seminoma |
| anti-Yo | paraneoplastic degeneration of the cerebellum | ovarian cancer, breast cancer |
| anti-CV2 |
|
|
| anti-Ri |
|
|
| anti-Ma / anti-Ta | inflammation of the brain and brainstem | testicular cancer |
| anti-amphiphysin | stiff man syndrome |
|
The presence of anti-neuronal antibodies does not clearly indicate a disease. These specific autoantibodies can also be detected in he althy people.
Anti-neuronal antibodies are most often associated with neurological paraneoplastic syndromes. However, some characteristic autoantibodies also appear in other autoimmune diseases of the nervous system.
| type of antibodies | autoimmune diseases of the nervous system |
| anti-aquaporin 4 | incl. Devic's disease and transverse myelitis (LETM) |
| anti-GAD | incl. stiff man syndrome |
| anti-AChRAb | incl. myasthenia gravis |
| anti-NMDA | the most common autoimmune encephalitis (also known as NMDA encephalitis) |
Source: 1. Michalak S., Kozubski W.,Neurological paraneoplastic syndromes , "Polski Przegląd Neurologiczny" 2008, vol. 4, no. 12. www.antyneuronalne.pl