title: Ma2 antibodies: an evaluation of commercially available detection methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ma2 antibodies belong to the onconeuronal antibodies which define a "definite" paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS). Because of the clinical relevance, use of two separate methods (indirect immunofluorescence technique--IFT--and immunoblot) is advocated; however, with an increasing number of commercially available assay systems, usually only one assay is performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared IFT and three commercially available immunoblots (ravo Diagnostika, Euroimmun, Milenia Biotec) on sera from 35 patients with clinically suspected PNS. 17 were Ma2 antibody associated as defined by consensus result (showing positive reactivity in 2 assays), 18 were Ma2 antibody negative controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity/specificity for single assays were for IFT 94%/94%, for ravo Diagnostika PNS blot 88%/100%, for Euroimmun Neuronal Antigens Profile blot 100%/89%, and for Milenia Biotec MTR blot 94%/100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm, although all tests performed well, a combination of 2 independent assays is still advisable for Ma2 antibody detection in order to achieve higher sensitivity and specificity rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Cologne, Germany. wibke.johannis@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Wibke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Johannis
authors.forename: Joerg H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Renno
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wielckens
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voltz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D020363:Limbic Encephalitis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D020364:Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C119249:Ma2 antigen; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins