Publications by authors named "R Hoftberger"

Long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) (LC) symptoms including pain and autonomic dysfunction are in some patients associated with small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). The pathomechanisms underlying SFN are mostly unclear. Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in immune regulation, viral clearance and nerve metabolism.

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Objective: To analyze long-term clinical and biomarker features of anti-contactin-1 (CNTN1) autoimmune nodopathy (AN).

Methods: Patients with anti-CNTN1 autoimmune nodopathy detected in our laboratory from which clinical information was available were included. Clinical features and treatment response were retrospectively collected.

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Article Synopsis
  • MOGAD encephalitis and ADEM present similar symptoms to autoimmune encephalitis (AE) linked with anti-neuronal antibodies, but their treatment and outcomes vary, and testing for anti-MOG antibodies is not routine.
  • In a study of 481 patients with suspected AE, only 3.5% had anti-MOG antibodies, with a higher prevalence in children compared to adults.
  • Patients with MOGAD exhibited fewer behavioral and movement disorders compared to those with AE, but had more symptoms related to demyelination, highlighting the need to consider MOGAD as a differential diagnosis in cases of possible AE.
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The recent discovery of pathogenic antibodies targeting cell adhesion molecules of the node of Ranvier has prompted efforts to develop a new classification for a subset of antibody-mediated peripheral neuropathies. These autoimmune nodo- and paranodopathies encompass epitopes such as neurofascin 155, neurofascin 186, contactin-1, and contactin-associated protein 1, with a high likelihood of involving additional yet unidentified proteins. So far, the investigation of this subset of patients was primarily focused on adults, with only rare reports of pediatric cases.

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Anti-IgLON5 disease is a unique condition that bridges autoimmunity and neurodegeneration. Since its initial description 10 years ago, an increasing number of autopsies has led to the observation of a broader spectrum of neuropathologies underlying a particular constellation of clinical symptoms. In this study, we describe the neuropathological findings in 22 patients with anti-IgLON5 disease from 9 different European centers.

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