Evaluating patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune epilepsy using spinal fluid specimens
Cell-Binding Assay (CBA)
Gamma-Aminobutyric acid Antibody
Anti-GABA A receptor Alpha 1 and Beta 3 Antibody
Anti-GABAAR encephalitis
Anti-GABA-A receptor encephalitis
AE
CSF
Container/Tube: Sterile vial
Preferred: Collection vial number 1
Acceptable: Any collection vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732) with the specimen.
0.4 mL
Gross hemolysis | Reject |
Gross lipemia | Reject |
Gross icterus | Reject |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
CSF | Ambient | 72 hours | |
Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | ||
Frozen | 28 days |
Evaluating patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune epilepsy using spinal fluid specimens
Gamma-amino butyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor autoantibodies are highly predictive of GABA-A receptor autoimmune encephalitis. Patients who are seropositive for GABA-A receptor encephalitis have characteristic clinical-radiologic presentations including frequent seizures and multifocal lesions in the white matter. The majority of patients are treatable with immunotherapy.
Negative
Seropositivity for gamma-amino butyric acid type A receptor autoantibodies supports the clinical diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis with neurological presentations including seizures and multifocal lesions in the white matter. A search for thymoma cancer and a trial of immunotherapy should be considered.
Negative results do not exclude the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Only 2% of autoimmune encephalitis cases are associated with autoantibodies against gamma-amino butyric acid type A receptor.
1. O'Connor K, Waters P, Komorowski L, et al. GABAA receptor autoimmunity A multicenter experience. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019;6(3):e552. doi:10.1212/NXI.0000000000000552
2. Spatola M, Petit-Pedrol M, Simabukuro MM, et al. Investigations in GABAA receptor antibody-associated encephalitis. Neurology. 2017; 88(11):1012-1020. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003713
3. Waters P, Irani S. GABA-A receptor antibodies and their clinical associations. Neurology. 2017;88:1010-1011
4. Petit-Pedrol M, Armangue T, Peng X, et al. Encephalitis with refractory seizures, status epilepticus, and antibodies to the GABAA receptor: a case series, characterization of the antigen, and analysis of the effects of antibodies. Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(3):276-286
Patient specimen is applied to a composite slide containing transfected and nontransfected EU90 cells. After incubation and washing, fluorescein-conjugated goat-antihuman IgG is applied to detect the presence of patient IgG binding.(Package insert: IIFT: Neurology Mosaics, Instructions for the indirect immunofluorescence test. EUROIMMUN, FA_112d-1_A_UK_C13, 02/25/2019)
Monday through Sunday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
86255
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
GBACC | GABA-A-R Ab CBA, CSF | 103715-9 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
620231 | GABA-A-R Ab CBA, CSF | 103715-9 |
Change Type | Effective Date |
---|---|
New Test | 2023-12-14 |