Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are immune-mediated disorders that can affect any part of the nervous system, occur in association with cancer and are often supported by the presence of specific neuronal autoantibodies.
Neuronal autoantibodies are classified as high-, intermediate-, or low-risk for paraneoplastic aetiology. Cancer association is 30–70% for intermediate-risk antibodies and <30% for low-risk antibodies. In general, intermediate- and low-risk antibodies are pathogenic, and patients often respond well to immunosuppressive therapy.
Anti-GAD65 antibodies are markers of autoimmune neuronal diseases such as limbic encephalitis, stiff-person syndrome, and cerebellar ataxia. Their association with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), neuroendocrine tumours, and thymoma is <15%.
Anti-GAD antibodies – particularly anti-GAD65 – are found in 80–90% of patients with type 1 diabetes and in 60–80% of patients with stiff-person syndrome, a disorder characterised by progressive stiffness and muscle spasms. However, anti-GAD antibodies are not present in all stiff-person syndrome patients and are not required for diagnosis. There is no clear correlation between anti-GAD antibody titre and disease severity.
Serum, EDTA plasma, heparin plasma, citrate plasma, CSF
Immunoblot, IFA cells
Fasting for at least 8-12 hours before sampling
Refer to the Health Service Charter to check storage conditions
+2/+8°C
This test provides the quantitative determination of total tau protein to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
This test provides the quantitative determination of tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 181 (pTau181), to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Test for the determination of human autoantibodies against NMDAR to support the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes with an intermediate-risk phenotype.
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