Paraneoplastic antibody during follow-up of a patient with anti-Ri-associated paraneoplastic neurological syndrome.

BACKGROUND

The role of classical antineuronal antibody determinations to confirm the paraneoplastic aetiology of a neurological syndrome is well established. However, the value of antineuronal antibody estimation during follow-up of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) is not known.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Prospective analysis of antibody concentrations in follow-up serum samples from a patient with anti-Ri-associated PNS.

METHODS

Semiquantitative estimation of antibody concentrations with an ELISA using recombinant Ri antigen.

RESULTS

Semiquantitative estimation of circulating anti-Ri antibodies demonstrated a renewed increase in antibody levels preceding relapse of the cancer, as confirmed using F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective report on serial anti-Ri antibody determinations. As a large increase in antineuronal antibody concentrations in follow-up serum samples preceded relapse of the cancer, paraneoplastic antineuronal antibodies may represent a marker for tumour activity in this case. These results warrant further multicentre studies to investigate the ability of serial quantification of classical antineuronal antibodies in monitoring PNS and in predicting relapse of cancers.