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NEUROLOGY 1998;50:652-657
© 1998 American Academy of Neurology

Paraneoplastic and oncologic profiles of patients seropositive for type 1 antineuronal nuclear autoantibodies

Claudia F. Lucchinetti, MD, David W. Kimmel, MD and Vanda A. Lennon, MD, PhD

From the Neuroimmunology Laboratory, Departments of Immunology, Neurology, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Address correspondence and reprint request to Dr. Claudia F. Lucchinetti, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

Type 1 antineuronal nuclear autoantibody (ANNA-1, also known as "anti-Hu") is a marker of neurologic autoimmunity that is highly associated with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). To determine the spectrum of symptoms and signs as well as the frequency of cancer in adult patients who are seropositive for ANNA-1, we reviewed 162 sequential patients (67% female) identified as ANNA-1-positive in a comprehensive immunofluorescence screening test. In 21% of these patients, the antibody test requested by the physician was not ANNA-1. By the end of the follow-up period, cancer had been found in 142 patients (88%). Ten of these lacked evidence of SCLC (4 had prostate carcinoma, 3 breast carcinoma, 1 both prostate carcinoma and melanoma, 1 lymphoma, and 1 squamous-cell lung carcinoma). Of the 132 patients(81%) with proven SCLC, 17 had one or more coexisting malignant neoplasms (6 had renal carcinoma, 4 another lung primary carcinoma, 3 prostate carcinoma, 3 breast carcinoma, and 4 assorted neoplasms). The diagnosis of SCLC in 128 patients(97%) followed the onset of paraneoplastic symptoms. SCLC was identified in 10 patients by chest MRI after an equivocal chest radiograph or CT; in 28 by bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, or thoracotomy; and in 7 at autopsy. Neurologic signs in decreasing frequency were neuropathy (sensory> mixed somatic > autonomic > cranial [especially cranial nerve VIII] > motor), cerebellar ataxia, limbic encephalitis, polyradiculopathy, associated Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, myopathy, myelopathy, opsoclonus/myoclonus, motor neuronopathy, brachial plexopathy, and aphasia. Nineteen patients had a solely gastrointestinal initial presentation, including gastroparesis, pseudo-obstruction, esophageal achalasia, or other dysmotility. We conclude that seropositivity for ANNA-1 can expedite the diagnosis and treatment of otherwise occult cancer in patients, especially tobacco abusers, with varied neurologic and gastroenterologic presentations. The search for SCLC should not end on discovering a different neoplasm.

Supported by grant CA-37343 from the National Cancer Institute.

Received November 15, 1996. Accepted in final form June 19, 1997.






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