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Anti-Hu-associated paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis presenting as rapidly progressive non-convulsive status
Alberto J Espay1, Vijay Kumar, Günseli Sarpel
1The Neuroscience Institute, 4503 Medical Sciences Building, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0525, USA. Alberto.espay@uc.edu
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|April 25, 2006
Summary
This study describes a rare case of rapidly progressing non-convulsive status epilepticus caused by anti-Hu antibodies. Early detection of these antibodies is crucial for diagnosing paraneoplastic epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Paraneoplastic syndromes can manifest with diverse neurological symptoms.
- Anti-Hu antibodies are frequently associated with paraneoplastic neurological disorders, particularly in older women.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with rapidly worsening consciousness and electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities.
- She developed non-convulsive generalized status epilepticus, ataxia, and sensory neuropathy within two weeks.
Findings:
- Immunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting confirmed the presence of anti-Hu antibodies.
- The patient's condition was characterized as a very rapidly progressive non-convulsive status epilepticus of paraneoplastic origin.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering anti-Hu antibodies in the workup of rapidly progressive epileptic syndromes.
- Testing for serum anti-Hu antibodies should be included even with minimal or absent imaging findings in suspected paraneoplastic epilepsy.
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