[Immunologic and clinical study of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis].
OBJECTIVE
To probe into the pathogenic mechanisms of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).


METHODS
The indirect immunoperoxidase method and Western blot analysis were used for detecting anti-Hu antibodies in 16 PLE patients associated with SCLC. Autopsy and pathological study were performed on two cases.


RESULTS
Eight patients (50%) had anti-Hu antibodies (anti-Hu+) whereas eight patients (50%) no detectable antineuronal antibodies (anti-Hu-). The clinical and laboratory features of PLE and time to diagnosis of SCLC were similar in the anti-Hu+ and anti-Hu- groups. Involvement of other areas of the nervous system in seven (87.5%) patients of the anti-Hu+ group but in only one (12.5)% of the anti-Hu- group (P = 0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of this characteristic neurological disorder strongly suggested that with an accompanying SCLC, existence of anti-Hu autoantibody was in favour of an autoimmune mechanism participating in PLE.
Chen
Q
Q
Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 230004.
Li
Q
Q
Qian
W
W
Tang
Q
Q
Liu
X
X
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020363:Limbic Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins