Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase define a form of limbic encephalitis

Ann Neurol. 2010 Apr;67(4):470-8. doi: 10.1002/ana.21917.

Abstract

Objective: Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) have been described in a few patients with temporal lobe epilepsies consistent with limbic encephalitis (LE). We studied a cohort of patients with recent-onset temporal lobe epilepsy caused by LE to test for GAD antibody positivity and response to immunotherapies.

Methods: Over a period of 3.75 years, 138 patients aged >or=18 years investigated at the Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, for recent-onset epilepsy were prospectively collected and studied for cliniconeuroradiological features of LE, autoantibodies, and treatment responses.

Results: Fifty-three adult patients fulfilled the criteria for LE: (1) limbic signs and symptoms for <or=5 years and (2) brain MRI revealing mediotemporal encephalitis (T2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity without atrophy). Nine had high-titer GAD antibodies; 10 had voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies. Patients with GAD antibodies were younger (median age, 23 years; range, 17-66 years) (p = 0.003) and presented with seizures only, whereas polymorphic limbic features were more common in the VGKC antibody-positive group (p < 0.001). None had tumors. Patients with GAD antibodies more frequently had cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (p = 0.009) and intrathecal secretion of the specific antibody (p = 0.01). Following monthly intravenous methylprednisolone pulses, GAD antibodies remained highly elevated in 6/6 patients, whereas VGKC antibodies normalized in 6/9 patients (p = 0.03). Despite more intense anticonvulsive treatment in the GAD antibody-positive group (p = 0.01), none of these patients became seizure free, unlike all of the patients with VGKC antibodies (p < 0.001).

Interpretation: High-titer GAD antibodies define a form of nonparaneoplastic LE. This is a chronic, nonremitting disorder and should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with TLE and mediotemporal encephalitis. Therapeutic trials of other immunotherapies should be undertaken.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Antibodies / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Limbic Encephalitis / blood*
  • Limbic Encephalitis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Limbic Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Limbic Encephalitis / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / immunology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase