Pathogenic autoantibodies to neuronal proteins in neurological disorders

Autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors and to voltage-gated calcium and potassium channels are thought to be pathogenic in three peripheral neurolo gical disorders: myasthenia gravis, the Lambert Eaten syndrome and acquired neuromyotonia. However, evidence for the role of antibodies in conditions involving the central nervous system, is scanty or unclear. This review des cribes the ways in which the roles of autoantibodies have been defined in t he peripheral diseases, and discusses the more controversial evidence for i nvolvement of autoantibodies in some central disorders such as multiple scl erosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.