Demographic and Clinical Profile of Neural Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Encephalitis and Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Pankaj Kumar1, Ali Mousavi2, Kristine Lenneth Ranola1, Noemie Duchemin Stevens1, Hans Frykman3
1BC Neuroimmunology lab, 2BC Neuroimmunology Lab, 3Medicine, Univesrity of British Columbia
Objective:
To understand the demographic and clinical spectrum of neural autoantibodies. 
Background:

Neural autoantibodies are associated with a wide range of neurological conditions. Understanding their relationships and distribution among demographic groups may guide diagnostic evaluation and malignancy screening.

Design/Methods:

A clinical analysis was conducted on 49 patients with positive neural antibodies between July 2024 to February 2026 at BC Neuroimmunology Lab., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Antibody measurement was performed using an initial IHC/IFA assay on rat brain sections. Where appropriate, confirmatory testing was subsequently conducted using fixed or live cell-based assays and/or immunoblot techniques to ensure diagnostic accuracy. The clinical information was obtained on 20 cases from requisition forms and complemented by a questionnaire sent to the referring clinicians. Age (<40, 40–59, 60–79, and ≥80 years) and antibodies were categorized, and data analysis was performed based on sex, age groups, and clinical information.

Results:

The most frequently detected antibodies were Hu (18.4%), SOX1 (16.3%), Titin (14.3%), LGI1 (10.2%) and NMDR (8.2%). CASPR2 and Amphiphysin and Hu antibodies were more frequent in males, whereas SOX1, Yo, and Zic4 antibodies were more common in females. In patients <40 years of age, NMDAR antibodies were more frequent, whereas Hu, Titin, SOX1, and Zic4 antibodies were more common in patients aged 60–79 years, and in those aged ≥80 years, SOX, Titin, and Recoverin antibodies were frequent . A broad spectrum of neural antibody–associated disorders was observed, including autoimmune encephalitis, limbic encephalitis, transverse myelitis, and MG.

Conclusions:

While younger patients are more likely to present with NMDAR antibodies, older patients show a predominance of Hu, SOX1, and Titin antibodies. These findings highlight the importance of phenotypic and demographic factors in clinical interpretation and may assist in guiding targeted malignancy screening strategies. They also reflect the diagnostic complexity and overlap between autoimmune, paraneoplastic, and non-autoimmune neurological syndromes.

Generative AI Usage
No, did not use generative AI in the drafting or editing in this abstract.
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