Autoimmunity in paraneoplastic neurological syndromes

In patients with Paraneoplastic Neurological Disorders, the researcher dete cted several autoantibodies reacting with neuronal antigens and tumors; the ir characteristics supported the hypothesis that autoimmunity plays a part in these diseases and gave impetus to the study of these neurological disor ders. The relationship between detection of anti-neuronal antibodies, clinical sy ndromes, and certain types of tumors suggested the utility of these antibod ies as a new tool for clinical diagnosis, although their function in the pa thogenesis of the various syndromes is still unclear. This paper intends to review the characteristics of the anti-neuronal antib odies so far identified, their correlation with clinical syndromes, and the function of antigens, In addition, the paper will offer some insights on t he immunological mechanisms of neuronal damage and on treatment options.