Project description:ObjectiveAnti-IgLON5 disease is a recently described neurological disease that shares features of autoimmunity and neurodegeneration. Abnormal movements appear to be frequent and important but have not been characterized and are under-reported. Here we describe the frequency and types of movement disorders in a series of consecutive patients with this disease.MethodsIn this retrospective, observational study, the presence and phenomenology of movement disorders were assessed with a standardized clinical questionnaire. Available videos were centrally reviewed by three experts in movement disorders.ResultsSeventy two patients were included. In 41 (57%) the main reason for initial consultation was difficulty walking along with one or several concurrent movement disorders. At the time of anti-IgLON5 diagnosis, 63 (87%) patients had at least one movement disorder with a median of three per patient. The most frequent abnormal movements were gait and balance disturbances (52 patients, 72%), chorea (24, 33%), bradykinesia (20, 28%), dystonia (19, 26%), abnormal body postures or rigidity (18, 25%), and tremor (15, 21%). Other hyperkinetic movements (myoclonus, akathisia, myorhythmia, myokymia, or abdominal dyskinesias) occurred in 26 (36%) patients. The craniofacial region was one of the most frequently affected by multiple concurrent movement disorders (23 patients, 32%) including dystonia (13), myorhythmia (6), chorea (4) or myokymia (4). Considering any body region, the most frequent combination of multiple movement disorders consisted of gait instability or ataxia associated with craniofacial dyskinesias or generalized chorea observed in 31(43%) of patients. In addition to abnormal movements, 87% of patients had sleep alterations, 74% bulbar dysfunction, and 53% cognitive impairment. Fifty-five (76%) patients were treated with immunotherapy, resulting in important and sustained improvement of the movement disorders in only seven (13%) cases.ConclusionsMovement disorders are a frequent and leading cause of initial neurological consultation in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease. Although multiple types of abnormal movements can occur, the most prevalent are disorders of gait, generalized chorea, and dystonia and other dyskinesias that frequently affect craniofacial muscles. Overall, anti-IgLON5 disease should be considered in patients with multiple movement disorders, particularly if they occur in association with sleep alterations, bulbar dysfunction, or cognitive impairment.

Project description:BackgroundAnti-IgLON5 disease is an autoimmune encephalitis overlapping with neurodegenerative disorders due to pathological accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. It is characterized by several clinical manifestations determined by involvement of different brain areas, and mild response to first-line immunotherapies. We report a case of anti-IgLON5 disease with a multifaceted semiology and an unusually good response to glucocorticoid monotherapy.Case presentationA 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was evaluated for an 8-month history of progressive gait disorder causing frequent falls. He also suffered from obstructive sleep apneas and complained of dysphonia, dysarthria, occasional dysphagia, urinary incontinence, and upper limb action tremor. Neurological examination demonstrated bilateral eyelid ptosis, limitation of ocular horizontal smooth pursuit movements, slow horizontal saccades, and lack of inhibition of the vestibulo-ocular reflex during rapid horizontal head torsions. The patient also displayed involuntary, slow, rhythmic movements of the left periorbital and perioral muscles, spreading to the ipsilateral hemipalate and hemitongue, along with bilateral negative upper limb myoclonus. There were proximal muscle wasting in the upper limbs, proximal weakness of the four limbs, and diffuse fasciculations. Ataxia of stance and gait and of the four limbs was noted. MRI of the brain and spine was unremarkable; nerve conduction studies revealed a chronic, predominantly demyelinating, sensory-motor polyneuropathy, probably due to diabetes. Routine CSF examination was unrevealing and serum GFAP level was 89.6 pg/mL; however, the autoimmunity tests revealed a high-titer positivity for anti-IgLON5 autoantibodies in both CSF and serum, leading to the diagnosis of anti-IgLON5 disease. Symptoms improved significantly after intravenous methylprednisolone.ConclusionsHemifacial and hemiorolingual myorhythmia along with peculiar oculomotor abnormalities characterizes the multifaceted clinical picture of our case. The complex semiology of our patient may reflect multifocal targeting of the autoimmune process or sequential spreading of tau inclusions in different brain areas. Our patient's optimal response to glucocorticoid monotherapy could be underpinned by a slightly different phenotype in which autoimmunity plays a greater pathogenic role than tauopathy, with a lower burden of tau deposition. In such patients, neurodegeneration and tau accumulation could be merely secondary to immune-mediated neuronal dysfunction, supporting the existence of a group of glucocorticoid-responsive patients.

Project description:BackgroundAnti-IgLON5 disease is a relatively rare autoimmune disease of the nervous system. The clinical course of this disease is generally chronic and progressive, exhibiting heterogeneity in clinical presentation and the lack of specific imaging features. We now report a case of a Anti-IgLON5 antibody-positive patient demonstrated two distinctive features. Firstly, the onset was marked by acute encephalopathy symptoms, including fever, with consciousness disturbance as the initial manifestation. Secondly, imaging studies revealed multiple lesions within the meninges and intracranial regions, characterized by extensive thickening and enhancement of the dura mater.Case presentationA previously healthy 78-year-old male patient presented with impaired consciousness and was admitted to the hospital. Brain MRI demonstrated abnormal signal located in the bilateral basal ganglia, frontal and parietal lobes. Post-contrast enhancement demonstrated thickening and enhancement of the dura mater in the bilateral frontal regions, along with mild enhancementin the cortical areas of the bilateral temporal lobes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis indicated the presence of oligoclonal bands in both serum and CSF, with a higher count in the CSF compared to serum. IgG antibodies against IgLON5 were detected in serum and CSF at a titer of 1:100. CSF concentrations of total Tau protein (t-Tau) and phosphorylated Tau protein (p-Tau) were normal. In conjunction with a positive serum and CSF IgLON5 antibody and exclusion of other diseases, diagnosis of anti-IgLON5 disease was made. Symptoms resolved completely after intravenous methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin therapy were administered. At 3-week follow-up the small patchy abnormal signal in the bilateral basal ganglia, frontal and parietal lobes have resolved. Additionally, post-contrast imaging reveals the absence of the previously noted abnormal dural enhancement. and there was no recurrence 18 months after the onset of the disease.ConclusionsAnti-IgLON5 disease is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. IgLON5 encephalopathy characterized mainly by symptoms of acute neurological symptoms and MRI evidence of meningeal enhancement has not been reported previously. The appropriate diagnostic strategy should encompass a thorough clinical evaluation, testing for anti-IgLON5 antibodies in both CSF and serum, as well as HLA genotyping. Timely diagnosis and early Intravenous methylprednisolone and/or IVIG therapy are beneficial in improving prognosis and preventing recurrence.

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Unusual Head Movements in Anti-IgLON5 Disease.

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Unusual Head Movements in Anti-IgLON5 Disease.

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