title: GABAB receptor antibodies in paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia.
abstract: Autoantibodies to the gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor were recently described in patients with limbic encephalitis presenting with early or prominent seizures. We report on a 64-year-old man with malignant melanoma who during adjuvant therapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha developed cerebellar ataxia. Indirect immunofluorescence on brain tissue sections revealed high-titer (1:20,000) IgG1 serum autoantibodies to the cerebellar molecular and granular layer, which were confirmed to be directed against GABAB receptor in a cell-based assay. This case highlights cerebellar ataxia in the absence of seizures as a clinical manifestation of GABAB receptor autoimmunity and extends the spectrum of tumors underlying this condition to malignant melanoma. IFN-alpha therapy may have contributed to the development of autoimmunity in this patient.
authors: Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Jarius
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Steinmeyer
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Knobel
authors: Kaspar
authors: K
authors: Streitberger
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Hotter
authors: Sigrun
authors: S
authors: Horn
authors: Heike
authors: H
authors: Heuer
authors: Stephan J
authors: SJ
authors: Schreiber
authors: Tabea
authors: T
authors: Wilhelm
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Trefzer
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Wildemann
authors: Klemens
authors: K
authors: Ruprecht
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B