Autoimmune channelopathies: new antibody-mediated disorders of the central nervous system.
Contrary to established wisdom, there now appear to be antibody-mediated central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Over the last few years, a number of patients have been defined with antibodies to voltage-gated (VGKC) or ligand-gated (NMDAR, GlyR) ion channels or ungated water (AQP4) channels. Some of the disorders improve spontaneously over time, others may be more chronic and relapsing-remitting, but immunotherapies reduce antibody levels and improve clinical outcomes. These are exciting developments that herald a new era of immunotherapy-responsive CNS diseases, and they raise interesting questions regarding the aetiological and pathogenic mechanisms mediating these conditions.
Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford OX3 9DS UK. angela.vincent@imm.ox.ac.uk
Angela
A
Vincent