title: Association of N-type calcium channel autoimmunity in patients with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy.
abstract: The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antibody directly contributes to the autonomic dysfunction in Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG). The pathological mechanism leading to autonomic dysfunction in seronegative AAG is unclear. We evaluated patients with presumed antibody negative AAG (n=49) to determine whether there was an association with other autoantibodies. Three patients met the clinical criteria and were positive for N-type calcium channel antibodies. All patients had severe autonomic dysfunction characterized by orthostatic hypotension and gastrointestinal involvement. Autonomic testing revealed severe impairment of sudomotor, cardiovagal, and adrenergic domains. These findings raise the possibility that other autoantibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of AAG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimpinski
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iodice
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vernino
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandroni
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001244:Association; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000473:pathology*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic