Eoin P. Flanagan

Autoimmune Dementia: Clinical Course and Predictors of Immunotherapy Response

OBJECTIVE To define the diagnostic characteristics and predictors of treatment response in patients with suspected autoimmune dementia. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2009, 72 consecutive patients received immunotherapy for suspected autoimmune dementia. Their baseline clinical, radiologic, and serologic characteristics were reviewed and compared between patients who were responsive to immunotherapy and those who were not. Patients were classified as responders if the treating physician had reported improvement after immunotherapy (documented in 80% by the Kokmen Short Test of Mental Status, neuropsychological testing, or both). RESULTS Initial immunotherapeutic regimens included methylprednisolone in 56 patients (78%), prednisone in 12 patients (17%), dexamethasone in 2 patients (3%), intravenous immune globulin in 1 patient (1%), and plasma exchange in 1 patient (1%). Forty-six patients (64%) improved, most in the first week of treatment. Thirty-five percent of these immunotherapy responders were initially diagnosed as having a neurodegenerative or prion disorder. Pretreatment and posttreatment neuropsychological score comparisons revealed improvement in almost all cognitive domains, most notably learning and memory. Radiologic or electroencephalographic improvements were reported in 22 (56%) of 39 patients. Immunotherapy responsiveness was predicted by a subacute onset (P<.001), fluctuating course (P<.001), tremor (P=.007), shorter delay to treatment (P=.005), seropositivity for a cation channel complex autoantibody (P=.01; neuronal voltage-gated potassium channel more than calcium channel or neuronal acetylcholine receptor), and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein (>100 mg/dL) or pleocytosis (P=.02). Of 26 immunotherapy-responsive patients followed up for more than 1 year, 20 (77%) relapsed after discontinuing immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Identification of clinical and serologic clues to an autoimmune dementia allows early initiation of immunotherapy, and maintenance if needed, thus favoring an optimal outcome.

Short myelitis lesions in aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

IMPORTANCE Short transverse myelitis (STM; <3 vertebral segments) is considered noncharacteristic of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). Nonappreciation of the potential for STM to occur in NMOSD may lead to increased disability from delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment. OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of short lesions at the initial myelitis manifestation of NMOSD and to compare the demographic, clinical, and radiological characteristics of aquaporin-4-IgG (AQP4-IgG) seropositive and seronegative STM. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We reviewed the records and images of patients at the Mayo Clinic who were identified as AQP4-IgG positive from 1996 to 2014. Inclusion criteria were first STM episode, magnetic resonance imaging performed 90 days or less from symptom onset, spinal cord T2-hyperintense lesion less than 3 vertebral segments, AQP4-IgG seropositivity, and a final diagnosis of NMO or NMOSD. Patients with an initial longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis were excluded (n = 151). Patients with STM who were seronegative for AQP4-IgG among an Olmsted County population-based cohort of inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system were used as a control group. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Delay to diagnosis in months, clinical and radiological characteristics, and disability measured by ambulatory status. RESULTS Twenty-five patients who were AQP4-IgG seropositive with an initial STM represented 14% of initial myelitis episodes among patients with NMOSD. The STM episode was defined as the first manifestation of NMOSD in 10 patients (40%) preceded by optic neuritis in 13 patients (52%) and preceded by a nausea and vomiting episode in 2 patients (8%). In comparison with the excluded patients with NMOSD who had an initial longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, delay to diagnosis/treatment was greater when initial lesions were short (P = .02). In AQP4-IgG-positive STM cases, subsequent myelitis episodes were longitudinally extensive in 92%. Attributes more common in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive STM than in 27 population-based patients with AQP4-IgG-negative STM included the following: nonwhite race/ethnicity; tonic spasms; coexisting autoimmunity; magnetic resonance imaging (central cord lesions, T1 hypointensity, and a brain inconsistent with multiple sclerosis); and cerebrospinal fluid (oligoclonal bands lacking). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Short transverse myelitis is not uncommon in NMOSD and, when it is present, delays diagnosis and treatment. Clinical and radiological characteristics identified in this study may help select patients with STM who are at the highest risk for an NMOSD. Short transverse myelitis does not exclude consideration of AQP4-IgG testing or NMOSD diagnosis.

Paraneoplastic isolated myelopathy Clinical course and neuroimaging clues

Objective: To report the clinical phenotype and outcome of isolated paraneoplastic myelopathy. Methods: We systematically reviewed clinical, serologic, and MRI data for 31 patients (20 female) who presented with an isolated myelopathy and coexisting cancer: carcinoma (lung, 9; breast, 7; kidney, 2; thyroid, 2; ovary/endometrium, 2), melanoma (2), or other cancer (3), or a paraneoplastic autoantibody with strong cancer association (amphiphysin–immunoglobulin G [IgG], 9; collapsin response-mediator protein 5–IgG, 9; Purkinje-cell cytoplasmic autoantibody type 1, 2; antineuronal nuclear autoantibody [ANNA]–1, 1; ANNA-3, 1). Results: Of 31 patients who presented with a progressive myelopathy, symptom onset was subacute in 16 (52%). The median age was 62 years. CSF abnormalities included elevated protein (>45 mg/dL), 22; pleocytosis, 15; excess oligoclonal bands (normal <4), 7. MRI cord abnormalities identified in 20 patients were longitudinally extensive (>3 vertebral segments), 14; symmetric tract or gray matter–specific signal abnormality, 15 (enhancing in 13). Myelopathy preceded cancer diagnosis in 18 patients (median interval 12 months; range 2–44). After myelopathy onset, 26 patients underwent oncologic treatment, immunosuppressive treatment (median delay to commencing immunotherapy 9.5 months [range 1–54]), or both; only 8 improved (31%). At last neurologic evaluation (median interval after onset 17 months; range 1–165 months), 16 patients (52%) were wheelchair-dependent (median time from onset to wheelchair 9 months [range 1–21]). Ten patients died after a median of 38 months from symptom onset (range 7–152). Conclusion: Symmetric, longitudinally extensive tract or gray matter–specific changes on spinal MRI should raise suspicion for a paraneoplastic myelopathy. Resulting disability is often severe. Only a minority of patients improve with treatment.

Basal ganglia T1 hyperintensity in LGI1-autoantibody faciobrachial dystonic seizures.

Objective: To characterize the clinical features and MRI abnormalities of leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1)-autoantibody (Ab) faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS). Methods: Forty-eight patients with LGI1-Ab encephalopathy were retrospectively identified by searching our clinical and serologic database from January 1, 2002, to June 1, 2015. Of these, 26 met inclusion criteria for this case series: LGI1-Ab seropositivity and FBDS. In a separate analysis of all 48 patients initially identified, the MRIs of patients with (n = 26) and without (n = 22) FBDS were compared by 2 neuroradiologists blinded to the clinical details. Results: The median age of the 26 included patients was 62.5 years (range 37–78); 65% were men. FBDS involved arm (26), face (22), and leg (12). Ten were previously diagnosed as psychogenic. Ictal EEGs were normal in 20 of 23 assessed. Basal ganglia T1 and T2 signal abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (42%), with excellent agreement between neuroradiologists (κ scores of 0.86 and 0.93, respectively), and included T1 hyperintensity alone (2), T2 hyperintensity alone (1), or both (8). The T1 hyperintensities persisted longer than the T2 hyperintensities (median 11 weeks vs 1 week, p = 0.02). Improvement with immunotherapy (18/18) was more frequent than with antiepileptic medications (10/24). A separate analysis of all 48 patients initially identified with LGI1-Ab encephalopathy showed that basal ganglia MRI abnormalities were present in 11 of 26 with FBDS but not present in those without FBDS (0/22) (p < 0.001). In contrast, mesial temporal MRI abnormalities were less common among those with FBDS (42%) than those without (91%) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Basal ganglia T1 hyperintensity is a clinically useful MRI biomarker of LGI1-Ab FBDS and suggests a basal ganglia localization.

Discriminating long myelitis of neuromyelitis optica from sarcoidosis

To compare longitudinally extensive myelitis in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and spinal cord sarcoidosis (SCS).

Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs) with a specific biomarker, aquaporin‐4–immunoglobulin G (AQP4‐IgG). Prior NMO/NMOSD epidemiological studies have been limited by lack of AQP4‐IgG seroprevalence assessment, absence of population‐based USA studies, and under‐representation of blacks. To overcome these limitations, we sought to compare NMO/NMOSD seroepidemiology across 2 ethnically divergent populations.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoglobulin G as biomarker of autoimmune astrocytopathy: Analysis of 102 patients

A novel autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) disorder with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐IgG as biomarker was recently characterized. Here, 102 patients with GFAP‐IgG positivity are described.

Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma International Primary CNS Lymphoma Collaborative Group report

Objective: To evaluate clinical presentation, optimal diagnostic evaluation and treatment, and outcome in primary leptomeningeal lymphoma, a rare form of primary CNS lymphoma without parenchymal or systemic involvement. Methods: The International Primary CNS Lymphoma Collaborative Group, a multidisciplinary group of physicians with a particular interest in primary CNS lymphoma, retrospectively identified cases of lymphoma isolated to the leptomeninges as diagnosed by CSF cytology, flow cytometry, or biopsy, without systemic or parenchymal brain/spinal cord lymphoma or immunodeficiency. Results: Forty-eight patients were identified, with median age at diagnosis of 51 years and median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2. Presenting symptoms were multifocal in 68%. Leptomeningeal enhancement was seen in 74% and CSF profile was abnormal in all cases. CSF cytology detected malignant lymphocytes in 67%. Flow cytometry identified monoclonal population in 80%, as did receptor gene rearrangement studies in 71%. Sixty-two percent had B-cell lymphoma, 19% T-cell, and 19% unclassified. Treatment varied and included fractionated radiotherapy (36%), systemic chemotherapy (78%), and intra-CSF chemotherapy (66%), with 66% receiving ≥2 modalities. Seventy-one percent had a favorable clinical response; ultimately, 44% received salvage treatment. Median overall survival was 24 months, with 11 patients still alive at 50 months follow-up. Conclusion: Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma is a rare form of primary CNS lymphoma. Patients usually present with multifocal symptoms, with evidence of leptomeningeal enhancement and diagnostic CSF analysis. Although treatment is highly variable, patients have a better prognosis than previously reported and a subset may be cured.

Specific pattern of gadolinium enhancement in spondylotic myelopathy

To highlight a specific under‐recognized radiological feature of spondylotic myelopathy often resulting in misdiagnosis.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

Since the discovery of aquaporin 4-IgG, a sensitive and highly specific biomarker of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a wide range of syndromes have been recognized as being associated with this condition. This observation has led to new proposed terminology for the entire disorder, NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). The discovery of a pathogenic autoantibody and its target antigen has also facilitated basic research into the immunopathogenesis of the disease. Key advances include establishment of passive transfer animal models demonstrating the pathogenic potential of the autoantibody and confirming an important role of complement suggested by immunopathology of NMO brain lesions and of B-cell subsets, plasmablasts in particular. These discoveries have led to phase 1 clinical trials of targeted immunotherapy with potential for improved efficacy and less toxicity than current empiric immunosuppressant medications used to treat NMOSD. Randomized clinical trials are beginning to assess the efficacy and safety of a variety of immunotherapies in NMOSD. Therapeutic options are likely to increase, and improved outcomes in NMOSD patients are anticipated.