CRMP5 antibodies found in a patient with limbic encephalitis and myasthenia gravis
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen and Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Professor C A Vedeler, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway; christian.vedeler{at}helse-bergen.no
- Received 12 March 2008
- Revised 4 June 2008
- Accepted 24 June 2008
Abstract
Collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5) antibodies are often associated with thymoma or small cell lung cancer and paraneoplastic syndromes such as limbic encephalitis (LE). A patient is described with myasthenia gravis who, following thymectomy and immunosuppression, acquired a viral infection and developed LE and increased levels of serum CRMP5 antibodies. The cognitive symptoms improved and CRMP5 antibody levels decreased after plasma exchange, suggesting that CRMP5 antibodies may have contributed to the development of LE.
Footnotes
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Funding: The study was supported by grants from the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital, Norway.
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Competing interests: None.
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Patient consent: Obtained.
