Klin Onkol 2000; 13(5): 155-158.
Summary:
Backgrounds: Autoimmune paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are rare diseases of the nervous system in patients often having an occult tumour and with important role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease. Some autoantibodies (anti-Yo, anti-Hu, and anti-Ri) are associated with characteristic types of tumours and neurological syndromes.
Design and subjects: The aims of the study were characterisation and evaluation of atypical occurrence of some paraneoplastic antibodies in positive patients with regard to the clinical pattern and its potential pathophysiological role.
Methods and results: 2355 samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients suspicious for neurological complications of oncological disease were investigated during 1997-1999. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid were tested on tissue substrate by the method of indirect
immunofluorescence and positive samples were confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The exceptional atypical co-occurrence of paraneoplastic antibodies in 3 patients was detected and their cases are presented. The association of antibodies (anti-Hu and anti-CV2), (anti-Hu and anti-Ri) and (anti-Yo and ANA) was found.
Conclusions: Association of autoantibodies in individual cases of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes did not change the clinical pattern and course of disease. Theoretical explanation of such associated occurrence is based on supraclonal properties of humoral immune system with its network organisation.
