Diagnostic value of anti-neuronal antibodies for paraneoplastic disorders of the nervous system. Issue 11 (November 1990)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moll, J W; Henzen-Logmans, S C; Splinter, T A; van der Burg, M E; Vecht, C J
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 53:Issue 11(1990)
• Page Start: 940
• Page End: 943
• Publication Date: 1990-11
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.53.11.940
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : The diagnostic value of the presence of anti-neuronal antibodies in serum was examined in 21 patients suspected of paraneoplastic disorders of the nervous system (NS) (group 1) and was compared to three control groups; group 2: 25 patients with a neurological disease, without cancer and no sign of paraneoplastic disorder; group 3: 27 patients with neurological disease and cancer and no signs of a paraneoplastic disorder; group 4: 94 patients with cancer and without neurological disease. In group 1, anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies were detected in eight patients (38%), in titres from 1:1000 to 1:32, 000. A small cell lung cancer was present in six patients, ovarian cancer in one patient and in one patient no tumour could be detected. The neurological symptoms preceded a diagnosis of cancer in five out of eight patients. Anti-neuronal antibodies were found in the serum of two out of 94 patients (2%) from control group 3 but not in serum from any of the other control groups. These data indicate a moderate sensitivity of 38%, but a high specificity of 98.6% (95% confidence interval 95.5-99.8%) for the presence of anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies if a paraneoplastic NS disorder is suspected.