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Steroid-responsive chronic cerebellitis with positive glutamate receptor delta 2 antibody

Masaya Kubota1, Yukitoshi Takahashi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Neurology), Metropolitan Hachioji Children's Hospital, Hachioji-city, Tokyo, Japan. mkmegped@opal .plala.or.jp

Journal of Child Neurology
|February 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A 4-year-old girl with chronic cerebellitis, linked to anti-glutamate receptor delta 2 antibodies after vaccination, showed significant improvement with steroid therapy. This case highlights the role of these antibodies in immune-mediated cerebellar dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Chronic cerebellitis is a rare neurological disorder affecting cerebellar function.
  • Anti-glutamate receptor delta 2 antibodies are implicated in cerebellar disorders, particularly in the developing brain.

Observation:

  • A 4-year-old girl developed chronic cerebellitis following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination.
  • The patient presented with symptoms associated with anti-glutamate receptor delta 2 antibodies.

Findings:

  • The patient experienced a dramatic clinical improvement following methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral prednisolone.
  • The findings suggest that anti-glutamate receptor delta 2 antibodies play a key role in an immune-mediated process affecting the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential of steroid therapy for antibody-mediated chronic cerebellitis.
  • Effective treatment is crucial for optimizing motor development and language acquisition in affected children, while managing corticosteroid side effects.

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