Anti-neuronal antibodies and movement disorders

Abstract

It has been proposed that autoimmunity underlies the pathogenesis of several movement disorders. Sydenham's chorea (SC) is the “prototype” of this group of disorders with the identification of anti-neuronal or anti-basal ganglia antibodies (ABGA) in subjects with SC dating back to the mid-1970s (Husby et al., 1976). More recently other movement disorders have also been associated with ABGA; including Tourette's syndrome (TS), pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), dyskinesias, dystonia, myoclonus and post-encephalitic Parkinsonism (Dale et al., 2002a,b; 2004a,b; DiFazio et al., 1998; Swedo et al., 1998).