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GFAP Auto-immunity : a French Cohort Study

Conditions
Autoimmune GFAP Astrocytopathy
Interventions
Other: Description and analysis
Registration Number
NCT04463550
Lead Sponsor
Hospices Civils de Lyon
Brief Summary

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-Immunoglobulin G (IgG) have recently been described as a biomarker of a novel inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorder, termed autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy. Thus far, four major clinical series have been published (two from Mayo Clinic USA, one from Italy and one from China). GFAP-IgG detected in serum or in cerebrospinal fluid, by tissue-based assay and confirmed by cell-based assay, are associated with encephalitis or meningoencephalitis of acute or subacute onset, less frequently with myelitis or optic disk edema. The characteristic MRI feature is brain linear perivascular radial gadolinium enhancement in the white matter perpendicular to the ventricle, consistent with the immunohistochemical staining pattern of GFAP in rodent brain sections. Approximately 20% of reported cases are associated with a neoplasm (ovarian teratoma mostly). Coexisting neural autoantibodies are described in some patients, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor (R)-IgG mostly, followed by aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG. The disease is usually corticosteroid responsive although relapse can occur. In contrast, Chinese patients display poorer outcomes. Pathophysiology is not well understood but the intracellular antigen location makes GFAP-IgG unlikely pathogenic whereas animal models and neuropathologic data suggest a T-cell immune-mediated disorder.

The aim of the investigators is to report the first French cohort of patients GFAP-IgG positive. Investigators retrospectively assessed clinical, immunological and radiological features, treatment response and outcomes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
38
Inclusion Criteria
  • Positive GFAP-Ab in serum and/or CSF tested by immunohistochemistry on mouse brain slices and confirmed by cell-based assay (CBA) of HEK293 cells expressing GFAP.
  • Diagnosis and follow-up in France
  • No age limit : from 0 to unlimited age
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients GFAP-IgG negative in serum and CSF
  • Absence of complete clinicopathological data
  • Foreign follow-up
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Patients GFAP-IgG positive in serum and/or CSFDescription and analysisPatients developing clinical autoimmune encephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis with anti-GFAP antibodies, managed by the National Reference Center for Paraneoplastic Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis or the National Reference Center for Centre de référence for Neuro-inflammatory diseases of the brain and the spinal cord at the Neurological Hospital of Bron.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Report retrospectively clinical data of patients GFAP-IgG positive.13 months

Describe prodromes (yes or no), neurologic signs and clinical course (acute/subacute - yes or

no - or progressive onset - yes or no), if admitted in intensive care units (yes or no), retrospectively provided by

the treating physicians using a structured questionnaire.or progressive onset), if admitted in intensive care units, neoplastic and dysimmune associated diseases and T cell dysregulation condition .

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Describe GFAP-antibody test results.13 months

positivity of GFAP α -IgG in cerebrospinal fluid, in serum and isoform type at diagnostic and follow up.

positivity of GFAP α -IgG in cerebrospinal fluid, in serum and isoform type at diagnostic and follow up.

demographic data of patients GFAP-IgG positive : age at onset13 months

age at onset (years) retrospectively provided by the treating

physicians using a structured questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospices Civils de Lyon

🇫🇷

Bron, France

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