Neurologic disorders associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies: A comparison of anti-GAD antibody titers and time-dependent changes between neurologic disease and type I diabetes mellitus

J Neuroimmunol. 2018 Apr 15:317:84-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.01.007. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Abstract

To determine clinical features of neurologic disorders associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (anti-GAD-Ab), we examined titers and time-dependent changes of anti-GAD-Ab. Six patients, stiff person syndrome (2), cerebellar ataxia (1), limbic encephalitis (1), epilepsy (1), brainstem encephalitis (1), were compared with 87 type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients without neurologic disorders. Anti-GAD-Ab titers and index were higher in neurologic disorders than in T1DM, suggesting intrathecal antibody synthesis. Anti-GAD-Ab titers in T1DM decreased over time, whereas they remained high in neurologic disorders. Immunotherapy improved neurological disorders and anti-GAD-Ab titers and index provide clinically meaningful information about their diagnostic accuracy.

Keywords: Anti-GAD antibody; Cerebellar ataxia; Neurologic disorders; Stiff person syndrome; Type I diabetes mellitus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology*
  • Female
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase