No effect of immunomodulatory therapy in focal epilepsy with positive glutamate receptor type 3--antibodies.
Antibodies against the glutamate receptor type 3-(GluR3) have been found in association with Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) but were also detected in patients with non-inflammatory focal epilepsies. We report the case of an 18-year-old patient with treatment refractory left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy accompanied by high levels of GluR3 antibodies. Different from experiences in patients with RE immunomodulatory therapy by use of intravenous gammaglobulines neither altered GluR3 serum levels nor had any effect on seizure frequency in our patient. Interestingly, GluR3 serum levels remained positive after successful surgical intervention leading to patient's seizure freedom.
Feichtinger
Michael
M
Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, A - 8036 Graz, Austria. mi.feichtinger@meduni-graz.at
Wiendl
Heinz
H
Körner
Eva
E
Holl
Alexander
A
Gruber
Lucia
L
Fazekas
Franz
F
Schröttner
Oskar
O
Eder
Hans
H
Ott
Erwin
E
D000293:Adolescent; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; C104723:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 3