Autoimmune neurology
A history of innovation and discovery
The Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology Laboratory was the first to introduce comprehensive serological evaluations for the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurologic autoimmune disorders, a group of disorders in which unusual neurologic signs and symptoms are the initial manifestations of cancer.
The laboratory continues to discover and clinically validate novel autoantibody profiles that inform neurological decision-making and guide the search for cancer, leading an evolution in autoimmune neurology diagnosis. Powered by expertise from our research labs, clinical labs, and Autoimmune Neurology Clinic, we have developed panels customized to address specific phenotypes. This approach delivers more clinically actionable results, providing a clear picture of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.
“Clinicians are used to looking for patterns in their clinical work, and we’re transferring that expertise into a clinical laboratory space. That’s not something that you learn overnight — it’s gained with experience over years.”
Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D.
News and updates
The latest
The fifth episode of “Life of a Specimen” video series highlights Joy Carol’s treatment journey after Mayo Clinic Laboratories antibody testing identified a paraneoplastic autoimmune disorder as the cause of her life-threatening symptoms.
After years of misdiagnosis, Tyler Hart found answers at Mayo Clinic, discovering he had NF155-IgG4 autoimmune nodopathy instead of CIDP
The fourth episode of “Life of a Specimen” video series explores the diagnosis enabled by antibody testing on Joy Carol’s cerebrospinal cord fluid and how her test result illuminated a path forward.
The third episode of “Life of a Specimen” video series discusses the integration that drives the development of innovative tests, including the movement disorders evaluation, at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
Check out the second episode of “Life of a Specimen,” a video exploration of the complex path taken by patient samples through testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. In this episode, we hear about the quality processes and careful treatment given to each sample received for testing.
Check out the first episode of “Life of a Specimen,” a video series that examines the critical journey taken by patient samples through Mayo Clinic Laboratories testing. In this video, we learn about the profound impact of our testing on one extraordinary patient.
An order-entry, clinical decision support tool developed by physicians and scientists at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) for clinicians within the healthcare system who order autoimmune and paraneoplastic antibody panels has significantly improved test utilization, resulting in a 28% reduction in monthly test volumes of impacted tests.
This microlearning will help learners develop the ability to include autoimmune movement disorders and related phenomena as part of the differential diagnosis, gain proficiency in categorizing autoimmune movement disorders based on phenotype and clinical progression, and identify effective strategies for diagnosing and managing autoimmune movement disorders.
JoAnne Michael’s symptoms started with dizziness and forgetfulness before down spiraling into severe confusion, crying jags, and brain seizures. ER doctors at her local hospital initially thought she was on drugs. JoAnne, terrified, wondered if she was dying. Luckily, she had a guardian angel by her side: her mother, a retired nurse practitioner, who took her to Mayo Clinic, where the clinical experience and expertise of neurologist Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., helped give her a diagnosis and hope for a journey back to health.
John Mills, Ph.D., and Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new test panel can distinguish among various potential causes of demyelinating neuropathies. Test results are important for managing these devastating autoimmune conditions.
Anastasia Zekeridou, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' updated panels and methodology boost the accuracy and efficiency of testing for three autoimmune neurology biomarkers. Early diagnosis is key to managing debilitating conditions associated with these antibodies.
Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique PDE10A and TRIM46 tests facilitate the management of central nervous system disorders triggered by cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for managing disabling neurological symptoms and malignancy.
What started as a persistent headache for Spencer Lodin soon devolved into slowed speech, seizures, and hallucinations, symptoms which stumped ER doctors into thinking he had meningitis or was suffering from psychosis. Finally, specialized testing at Mayo Clinic identified Spencer's condition as GFAP-IgG associated autoimmune encephalitis, which allowed for targeted treatment and a full recovery.