Absence of cerebrospinal fluid antineuronal antibodies in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Oviedo-Salcedo, Tatiana; Witte, Lot de; Kümpfel, Tania; Kahn, René S.; Falkai, Peter ; Eichhorn, Peter; Luykx, Jurjen and Hasan, Alkomiet (2018): Absence of cerebrospinal fluid antineuronal antibodies in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In: British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 212, No. 5: pp. 318-320

Abstract

Antibody-mediated encephalitis has been discussed as one possible cause for isolated psychotic syndromes. Mostly based on serum samples, findings have been controversial. We present the results of a retrospective study of 124 clinically diagnosed psychotic patients without documented relevant neurological symptoms. All were tested for different antineuronal antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) while 81 received serum testing. Antineuronal antibodies in CSF were negative across the sample. 3.7% showed low positive serum antibodies. Our findings highlight the importance of a deeper discussion about the relevance of low positive serum antibodies without concurrent findings in CSF or clinical signs for autoimmune encephalitis.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English