Field Definitions¶

Breakdown of each section when navigating through the site.

Description¶

What it is¶

A single sentence comprising key pieces of information which serves as a ‘top line’ summary from which a clinician will gain the most information at a glance.

• Might be expressed in a lab report comment and might be read quickly by the clinician when reviewing results before seeing a patient.
• May include some or all of previous definitions including but not limited to target antigen, expression pattern, antigen location, molecular characteristics.
• May include some important components like “pittfalls” and “most helpful”.
• Where available would include whether the autoantibody is best detected in the CSF or serum.

What it is not¶

A sentence which confuses the user (e.g. aims to use terms such as “highly associated” instead of “associated with 20-40% of cases of ADEM” which is unclear whether 20-40% of positive cases have ADEM or if 20-40% of ADEM have positive autoantibodies).

Information plagiarised from other authors without credit.

• E.g. “Anti-NF155 is an autoantibody usually of the IgG4 isotype associated with a rare autoimmune paranodopathy presenting with ataxic neuropathy formerly considered part of the spectrum of CIDP.”
• E.g. “Anti-SOX1 is an autoantibody directed against an intracellular antigen highly expressed in the cerebellar cortex, strongly associated with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and small cell lung cancer.”
• E.g. “Anti-MOG is an IgG antibody often found in cases of anti-AQ4 negative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and is associated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.”

Mechanism of action¶

How the antibody is thought to be pathological¶

• e.g. anti-NMDAR cross linking and internalisation of the receptor.
• Functional (i.e. inhibitory or stimulatory).
• Localised cell damage either through cytotoxic cellular effects or complement mediated damage.
• Unknown.

Where the autoantibody acts¶

• E.g. anti-LGI1 targets a part of the VGKC complex at the cell surface.
• E.g. Anti-Hu targets an intracellular protein."

Associated clinical features¶

of the syndrome associated with the antibody

Associated neoplasia¶

to describe the most common malignancies associated with the antibody and to identify whether the antibody is high (>70%), intermediate (30-70%), or lower risk (<30%) for an associated malignancy.

Laboratory method¶

Indirect immunofluorescence, cell based assay, flow cytometry, radioimmunoprecipitation/fluorescence immunoprecipitation, ELISA.

Notes on performance characteristics of the test¶

Grade¶

A standardised score or expert panel opinion on the ‘health’ of the assay.

Includes the pitfalls of and most useful applications of this test.

Takes into account several components including: access to the assay, cost, performance characteristics, availability of certified reference material"

Next steps¶

Might include comments on prognosis, treatment efficacy, relapse rate, disease activity, and disease classification.