title: Retinal anti-bipolar cell antibodies in a patient with paraneoplastic retinopathy and colon carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical, electrophysiologic, and immunologic features of a unique paraneoplastic retinopathy with characteristics of cancer-associated and melanoma-associated retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial assessment of clinical visual function, electroretinography, and assays of anti-retinal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 51-year-old woman with progressive visual glare for 1 year had normal visual acuity and color vision, paracentral scotomas, and a normal-appearing retina. Electroretinography revealed no responses of the right eye and attenuated responses of the left eye, especially those recorded under scotopic conditions. Anti-bipolar antibodies were detected. Subsequent evaluation uncovered adenocarcinoma of the colon. Several months after resection of the tumor and chemotherapy, no evidence existed of cancer or anti-bipolar cell antibodies, and electroretinography responses were markedly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of anti-bipolar cell antibodies in a patient with retinal dysfunction is not specific of melanoma-associated retinopathy. Effective treatment of cancer may result in elimination of associated anti-retinal antibodies and improved retinal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, USA. jacobsod@mfldclin.edu
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adamus
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies