Optimizing the diagnostic performance of neural antibody testing for paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis in clinical practice

Adrian Budhram, Eoin P. Flanagan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The detection of neural antibodies in patients with paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis has majorly advanced the diagnosis and management of neural antibody-associated diseases. Although testing for these antibodies has historically been restricted to specialized centers, assay commercialization has made this testing available to clinical chemistry laboratories worldwide. This improved test accessibility has led to reduced turnaround time and expedited diagnosis, which are beneficial to patient care. However, as the utilization of these assays has increased, so too has the need to evaluate how they perform in the clinical setting. In this chapter, we discuss assays for neural antibody detection that are in routine use, draw attention to their limitations and provide strategies to help clinicians and laboratorians overcome them, all with the aim of optimizing neural antibody testing for paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis in clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHandbook of Clinical Neurology
PublisherElsevier B.V.
Pages365-382
Number of pages18
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2024

Publication series

NameHandbook of Clinical Neurology
Volume200
ISSN (Print)0072-9752
ISSN (Electronic)2212-4152

Keywords

  • Assay
  • Blot
  • False negative
  • False positive
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Phenotype creep
  • Predictive value
  • Sensitivity
  • Specificity
  • Tissue indirect immunofluorescence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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