Frontiers in Immunology (Sep 2022)

Case report: Autoimmune nodopathy with concurrent serum and CSF IgG4 anti-neurofascin 155 antibodies

  • Wanyu Wang,
  • Lingchun Liu,
  • Mingzhi Zhang,
  • Ruihan Yang,
  • Da Liu,
  • Shunyu Yang,
  • Qiang Meng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028282
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo report a case of autoimmune nodopathy (AN) with concurrent serum and CSF immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 anti-neurofascin 155 (NF155) and anti-GD1b antibodies.MethodsA 20-year-old male presented distal weakness of the 4 limbs, hypoesthesia, absent tendon reflexes and sensory ataxia. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), MRI, and autoantibody tests were performed.ResultsNCS revealed a diffuse demyelinating neuropathy in the peripheral nerve with motor and sensory involvement. MRI of the cervical and lumbar plexus showed diffuse enlargement. IgG4 anti-NF155 antibodies in both serum and CSF and IgG anti-GD1b antibodies in serum were positive. After treatment with IVIg, rituximab, and plasma exchange, the titer of the patient’s anti-NF155 antibodies decreased, but symptoms did not significantly improve.DiscussionThis patient presented a typical clinical feature of AN with serum and CSF anti-NF155 antibodies and serum anti-GD1b antibodies coexistent but poor response to IVIg, rituximab and plasma exchange. Early detection of antibodies may be helpful in both diagnosis and therapy of the disease. And prospective studies are necessary to demonstrate the potential role of anti-NF155 antibodies in CSF and help further understand this complex and heterogeneous disease.

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