GABAB receptor antibodies in paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia.

Abstract

Autoantibodies to the gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor were recently described in patients with limbic encephalitis presenting with early or prominent seizures. We report on a 64-year-old man with malignant melanoma who during adjuvant therapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha developed cerebellar ataxia. Indirect immunofluorescence on brain tissue sections revealed high-titer (1:20,000) IgG1 serum autoantibodies to the cerebellar molecular and granular layer, which were confirmed to be directed against GABAB receptor in a cell-based assay. This case highlights cerebellar ataxia in the absence of seizures as a clinical manifestation of GABAB receptor autoimmunity and extends the spectrum of tumors underlying this condition to malignant melanoma. IFN-alpha therapy may have contributed to the development of autoimmunity in this patient.

• Authors: Sven Jarius, Florian Steinmeyer, Astrid Knobel, Kaspar Streitberger, Benjamin Hotter, Sigrun Horn, Heike Heuer, Stephan J Schreiber, Tabea Wilhelm, Uwe Trefzer, Brigitte Wildemann, Klemens Ruprecht
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 256 Issue 1-2 Pg. 94-6 (Mar 15 2013) ISSN: 1872-8421 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23332614 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Immunologic Factors
• Interferon-alpha
• Receptors, GABA-B

Topics

• Antibodies (metabolism)
• Brain (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Transformed
• Cerebellar Ataxia (chemically induced, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (adverse effects)
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects)
• Male
• Melanoma (drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, GABA-B (immunology)