Acute cerebellar ataxia and consecutive cerebellitis produced by glutamate receptor delta2 autoantibody.
Acute cerebellar ataxia is usually a self-limited benign disease, which may develop in children after certain viral infections or vaccinations. There are several reports of acute cerebellar ataxia associated with autoantibodies. Glutamate receptor delta2, a member of the glutamate receptor family, is predominantly expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells and plays a crucial role in cerebellar functions. To date anti-GluRdelta2 autoantibody was detected in a patient with chronic cerebellitis. Herein, an 18-month-old boy presented with cerebellar ataxia 9 days following a mild respiratory tract infection. Although cerebellar ataxia gradually improved, it worsened yet again following mumps and varicella virus infection. Cerebro-spinal fluid examination and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated pleocytosis and meningeal enhancement, respectively. Furthermore, glutamate receptor delta2 autoantibody was detected in serum and cerebro-spinal fluid. Thus, we believe that the glutamate receptor delta2 autoantibody may play a role in cerebellar ataxia and consecutive cerebellitis.
Shiihara
Takashi
T
Department of Pediatrics, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan. shiihara-ind@umin.net
Kato
Mitsuhiro
M
Konno
Akihiro
A
Takahashi
Yukitoshi
Y
Hayasaka
Kiyoshi
K
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; C107913:glutamate receptor delta 2