Acute Cerebellar Ataxia Associated with Anti-glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies Mimicking Miller Fisher Syndrome

Intern Med. 2018 Jan 15;57(2):269-271. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9190-17. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 53-year-old man with cerebellar ataxia with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD-Ab) who mimicked Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS). He developed ophthalmoplegia, diplopia, and gait ataxia for one week. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid GAD-Ab titers were greatly increased, and the GAD-Ab index suggesting intrathecal antibody synthesis was elevated, while GQ1b-Ab was negative. After steroid pulse therapy and following prednisolone, his symptoms dramatically improved over the course of 11 months with the simultaneous decline of GAD-Ab titers. This case indicates that cerebellar ataxia with GAD-Ab can present with acute neurological findings mimicking MFS, and that steroid therapy has an excellent therapeutic effect.

Keywords: Miller Fisher syndrome; acute onset; anti-GAD; ataxia; corticosteroid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / complications
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diplopia / complications
  • Gait Ataxia / complications
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Miller Fisher Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Ophthalmoplegia / complications

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase