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GALOP syndrome: case report with 7-year follow-up
1Department of Neurology, Saint Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|April 28, 2004
Summary
Gait ataxia, late-onset polyneuropathy (GALOP) syndrome is linked to IgM antibodies targeting the galopin antigen. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy offers significant symptom improvement for affected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Gait disorders can significantly impact quality of life in the elderly.
- Late-onset polyneuropathy presents diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- An elderly woman presented with gait ataxia and late-onset polyneuropathy (GALOP syndrome).
- Clinical examination revealed mild distal weakness, sensory loss, positive Romberg, and unsteady gait.
Findings:
- Serum immunofixation identified a monoclonal IgM-kappa protein.
- Specific IgM binding to galopin, a central nervous system white matter antigen, was confirmed.
- This suggests an autoimmune basis for GALOP syndrome.
Implications:
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy demonstrated efficacy in alleviating neurologic symptoms.
- Long-term follow-up showed sustained improvement, supporting IVIg as a treatment option.
- This case highlights the importance of identifying specific autoantibodies in polyneuropathies.