RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Antifibroblast growth factor receptor 3 antibodies identify a subgroup of patients with sensory neuropathy JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 1347 OP 1355 DO 10.1136/jnnp-2014-309730 VO 86 IS 12 A1 Jean-Christophe Antoine A1 Nadia Boutahar A1 François Lassablière A1 Evelyne Reynaud A1 Karine Ferraud A1 Véronique Rogemond A1 Stéphane Paul A1 Jérôme Honnorat A1 Jean-Philippe Camdessanché YR 2015 UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/86/12/1347.abstract AB Background Immunological mechanisms are suspected in sensory neuropathy (SN) occurring with systemic autoimmune diseases and in some idiopathic cases, but so far there are no antibodies (Abs) identifying these neuropathies.Methods In the search for such specific antibodies, serum samples were collected from 106 patients with SN of these 72 fulfilled the diagnosis criteria of sensory neuronopathy (SNN) and 211 control subjects including patients with sensorimotor neuropathies, other neurological diseases (ONDs), systemic autoimmune diseases and healthy blood donors.Results In the first step, a protein array with 8000 human proteins allowed identification of the intracellular domain of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) as a target of Abs in 7/16 SNN and 0/30 controls. In the second step, an ELISA method was used to test the 317 patients and controls for anti-FGFR3 Abs. Abs were detected in 16/106 patients with SN and 1/211 controls (p<0.001). Among the 106 patients with SN, anti-FGFR3 Abs were found in 11/38 patients with autoimmune context, 5/46 with idiopathic neuropathy and 0/22 with neuropathy of other aetiology (p=0.006). The only control patient with anti-FGFR3 Abs had lupus and no recorded neuropathy. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of anti-FGFR3 Abs for a diagnosis of idiopathic or dysimmune SN were 19%, 99.6%, 94.1% and 77.3%, respectively. A cell-based assay confirmed serum reactivity against the intracellular domain of FGFR3. The neuropathy in patients with anti-FGF3 Abs was non-length dependent in 87% of patients and fulfilled the criteria of probable SNN in 82%. Trigeminal nerve involvement and pain were frequent features.Conclusions A anti-FGFR3 Abs identify a subgroup of patients with SN in whom an underlying autoimmune disorder affecting sensory neurons in the dorsal root and trigeminal nerve ganglia is suspected.