Mayo Clinic Laboratories > Neurology > Autoimmune

Autoimmune neurology

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At the forefront of a testing evolution

Autoimmune neurology is a rapidly evolving subspecialty driven by the discovery that the immune system can target virtually any structure within the central and peripheral nervous systems. These conditions manifest as disorders previously thought to be independent and unrelated, and early and accurate diagnosis is paramount.

We are leading an evolution in autoimmune neurology diagnosis, with a phenotype-specific testing approach to effectively diagnose and guide treatment for these patients.

AUTOIMMUNE NEUROLOGY TEST MENU

Dementia Dementia
Dementia

Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, our autoimmune dementia panel evaluates for the presence of nearly 20 antibodies associated with immune-mediated dementia.  

Encephalopathy Encephalopathy
Encephalopathy

Recently identified as being as common as infectious encephalitis, autoimmune encephalitis can have devastating results when misdiagnosed. Our testing features both robust panels and unique stand-alone evaluations to detect antibodies related to rare and complex cases of autoimmune encephalopathy. Developed by some of the world’s most knowledgeable autoimmune neurology specialists, our encephalopathy evaluations can pinpoint the correct cause and propel appropriate treatment.

Epilepsy Epilepsy
Epilepsy

Proper identification of immune-mediated epilepsy is vital to directing appropriate treatment. Our autoimmune epilepsy evaluation detects for more than a dozen antibody biomarkers related to autoimmune causes.

Movement disorders Movement disorders
Movement disorders

Our comprehensive autoimmune movement disorders panel is continuously updated to include newly discovered antibody biomarkers and uses advanced testing approaches to detect actionable antibodies. Data-backed and developed by our autoimmune neurology experts, our evaluations include detection of several antibody biomarkers available only at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton
Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton

Our reflexive approach to testing for myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome optimizes diagnosis to expedite treatment. Consisting of upfront and confirmatory antibody testing, followed by automatic second-line testing, our diagnostic algorithm enables faster, more accurate answers for more patients.

Myelopathy Myelopathy
Myelopathy

Mayo Clinic Laboratories is the only laboratory in the world to offer testing for a novel form of relapsing autoimmune meningoencephalomyelitis. Known as autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy, the antibody is one of more than a dozen included in our phenotypic-specific autoimmune myelopathy evaluation.

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy
Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy

Our necrotizing autoimmune myopathy evaluation detects for HMGCR-IgG and SRP-IgG, which are the two most pertinent antibodies associated with the devastating condition.

Neuropathies Neuropathies
Neuropathies

We offer a full menu of autoimmune neuropathy tests that evaluate for specific antibody biomarkers linked to the illness. Using electrophysiology test results as a determining factor for which test to order, our expert-backed evaluations provide accurate results to confirm diagnosis and set patients on the best treatment path.

Pediatric disorders Pediatric disorders
Pediatric disorders

Designed specifically for children, our unique profile includes only those antibodies pertinent to pediatric central nervous system disorders.

Vision loss Vision loss
Vision loss

Including antibodies known for their association with paraneoplastic retinopathy or cancer-associated retinopathy, our distinct autoimmune vision loss panel can help individuals with rapidly progressive vision loss when paraneoplastic causes, such as retinopathy or optic neuritis, are suspected.  

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

Grounded in gratitude, embracing treatment with hope

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.

Learn more
Neuroimmunology: Updates and antibody test utilization

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., reviews the use of neurological phenotype-based evaluations, the move away from the paraneoplastic evaluation, and upcoming changes to test profiles.

Autoimmune Profile Updates [Test in Focus]

Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., discusses updates that are being made to Mayo Clinic Laboratories' autoimmune profile that will remove some antibodies from those profiles. He describes the rationale behind the updates, reviews which antibodies are involved, and explains how the changes will streamline testing and enhance test interpretation.

Autoimmune profile updates

Based on studies that have shown certain antibodies may not be as clinically relevant to autoimmune testing as previously thought, Mayo Clinic Laboratories is updating a number of its autoimmune profiles by removing some antibodies from them.

Myasthenia Gravis [Test in Focus]

Christopher Klein, M.D., discusses Mayo Clinic’s updated myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome testing approach. Automatic reflex to second-line testing saves time and increases sensitivity and specificity to confirm diagnosis in patients with atypical presentation.

Paraneoplastic Vision Loss Evaluation [Test in Focus]

Andrew McKeon, M,B., B.Ch., M.D., provides an overview of Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new paraneoplastic vision loss evaluation — a test that can help direct a cancer diagnosis and guide treatment. He reviews why this test was developed, when it should be ordered, and how the results can affect patient care.

Behind the scenes in neural antibody testing

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” John Mills, Ph.D., explains the central role of tissue immunofluorescence in the identification of neural antibodies and discusses the benefits of an integrated laboratory approach to the development and validation of novel antibody biomarkers.

Pediatric Autoimmune CNS Disorders Evaluation

This “Specialty Testing” webinar will address the clinical presentations, evaluation (including diagnostic antibody testing), and treatment of autoimmune pediatric CNS disorders, including encephalitides and myelopathies.

Autoimmune Myelopathy

This “Specialty Testing” webinar will describe the clinical, radiologic, and serologic characteristics of autoimmune myelopathies and their mimics.

Collaboration Paves the Way for Rapid Discovery in Autoimmune Neurology

Using advanced technology, scientists at Chan Zuckerberg (CZ) Biohub, Mayo Clinic and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have discovered an autoimmune disease that appears to affect men with testicular cancer.

Patient Story Features the Importance of Neuroimmunology

Sean Pittock, M.D., and Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., were featured in a Post Bulletin series about autoimmune neurology disorders and the research and services that Mayo Clinic offers patients.

Resources
Learn more Autoimmune neurology antibody matrix
Learn more Antibody prevalence in epilepsy and encephalopathy (APE2) score
Learn more Autoimmune neurology test ordering guide
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