Amy M L Quek,
Jeffrey W Britton,
Andrew McKeon,
Elson So,
Vanda A Lennon,
Cheolsu Shin,
Christopher J Klein,
Robert E Watson,
Amy L Kotsenas,
Terrence D Lagerlund,
Gregory D Cascino,
Gregory A Worrell,
Elaine C Wirrell,
Katherine C Nickels, Allen J Aksamit,
Katherine H Noe,
Sean J Pittock
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical characteristics and immunotherapy responses in patients with autoimmune epilepsy. DESIGN: Observational, retrospective case series. SETTING: Mayo Clinic Health System. Patients Thirty-two patients with an exclusive (n = 11) or predominant (n = 21) seizure presentation in whom an autoimmune etiology was suspected (on the basis of neural autoantibody [91%], inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid [31%], or magnetic resonance imaging suggesting inflammation [63%]) were studied. All had partial seizures: 81% had failed treatment with 2 or more antiepileptic drugs and had daily seizures and 38% had seizure semiologies that were multifocal or changed with time. Head magnetic resonance imaging was normal in 15 (47%) at onset. Electroencephalogram abnormalities included interictal epileptiform discharges in 20; electrographic seizures in 15; and focal slowing in 13. Neural autoantibodies included voltage-gated potassium channel complex in 56% (leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated 1 specific, 14; contactin-associated proteinlike 2 specific, 1); glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 in 22%; collapsin response-mediator protein 5 in 6%; and Ma2, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, and ganglionic acetylcholine receptor in 1 patient each. Intervention Immunotherapy with intravenous methylprednisolone; intravenous immune globulin; and combinations of intravenous methylprednisolone, intravenous immune globulin, plasmapheresis, or cyclophosphamide. Main Outcome Measure Seizure frequency. RESULTS: After a median interval of 17 months (range, 3-72 months), 22 of 27 (81%) reported improvement postimmunotherapy; 18 were seizure free. The median time from seizure onset to initiating immunotherapy was 4 months for responders and 22 months for nonresponders (P < .05). All voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibody-positive patients reported initial or lasting benefit (P < .05). One voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibody-positive patient was seizure free after thyroid cancer resection; another responded to antiepileptic drug change alone. CONCLUSION: When clinical and serological clues suggest an autoimmune basis for medically intractable epilepsy, early-initiated immunotherapy may improve seizure outcome.
Archives of neurology 03/2012; · 6.31 Impact Factor
