Antibodies to the α3 subunit of the ganglionic-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in patients with autoimmune encephalitis

Since autonomic dysfunction is closely associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE), the objective of this study was to determine the autonomic symptoms and the prevalence of anti- α3 subunit of the ganglionic-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (gAChRα3) antibodies in the patients with AE. We reviewed the clinical features of 19 AE patients, and specifically analyzed sera for anti-gAChRα3 antibodies using the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay. Cardiovasc ular autonomic symptoms were found to be common in patients with AE, and hypersalivation was seen only in patients with NMDAR encephalitis.

Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - September 20, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Makoto Yamakawa, Akihiro Mukaino, Akio Kimura, Yuki Nagasako, Yuki Kitazaki, Yasushi Maeda, Osamu Higuchi, Koutaro Takamatsu, Mari Watari, Nobuaki Yoshikura, Masamichi Ikawa, Izumi Sugimoto, Yasuhisa Sakurai, Hidenori Matsuo, Yukio Ando, Takayoshi Shimoha Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research