Cyclophosphamide for anti-GAD antibody-positive refractory status epilepticus

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ines C. Kanter - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Hagen B. Huttner - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Dimitre Staykov - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Teresa Biermann - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Tobias Struffert - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Frank Kerling - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Max Josef Hilz - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Peter D. Schellinger - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Stefan Schwab - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Jürgen Bardutzky - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)

Abstract

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the enzyme which catalyzes the production of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). There is increasing evidence that severe GAD autoimmunity may be associated with refractory epilepsy. Immunomodulation and GABAergic drugs have been suggested as treatment options. We report here for the first time on a patient with sudden onset of refractory status epilepticus in the presence of strong intrathecal anti-GAD antibody synthesis who was successfully treated with cyclophosphamide, and give an overview of available data on epilepsy associated with GAD autoimmunity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)914-920
Number of pages7
JournalEpilepsia
Volume49
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 7 Feb 2008
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 18177354

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Anti-GAD antibodies, Cyclophosphamide, Epilepsy, Intrathecal GAD-Ab synthesis