Paraneoplastic chorea associated with CRMP-5 neuronal antibody and lung carcinoma

Ann Neurol. 2002 May;51(5):625-30. doi: 10.1002/ana.10178.

Abstract

Paraneoplastic chorea is described in 16 patients: 11 with limited small-cell carcinoma, 2 with lung cancer revealed by imaging, 1 with renal cell carcinoma, and 1 with lymphoma. All had CRMP-5-IgG; 6 also had ANNA-1 (anti-Hu), including 1 without evident cancer. Chorea was the initial and most prominent symptom in 11 patients, asymmetric or unilateral in 5 patients, and part of a multifocal syndrome in 14 patients. Basal ganglia abnormalities were revealed by magnetic resonance imaging and at autopsy (as perivascular inflammation and microglial activation). Four patients improved with chemotherapy, and 2 improved with intravenous methylprednisolone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / pathology
  • Chorea / blood*
  • Chorea / complications
  • Chorea / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / blood*
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / blood*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / blood*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / complications
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / pathology
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins