Antibody testing in peripheral neuropathies.
Many autoantibodies have been described in association with peripheral neuropathy, but the use of antibody testing in clinical practice remains a matter of some debate. Serum autoantibodies to gangliosides or glycoproteins are implicated in a variety of sensory and motor neuropathy syndromes. Paraneoplastic antibodies help identify patients who have a neuropathy related to an underlying malignancy. Detection of an autoantibody in the right clinical setting provides some evidence that the peripheral nerve disturbance is immune mediated and that immunomodulatory therapy may be of benefit.
Vernino
Steven
S
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9036, USA. steven.vernino@utsouthwestern.edu
Wolfe
Gil I
GI
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D051959:ELAV Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D016111:Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein