CSF TACI and BAFF levels in patients with primary CNS lymphoma as novel diagnostic biomarkers.

We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure pretreatment B cell-activating factor belonging to the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) and transmembrane activator and CAML-interactor (TACI) levels in CSF and serum collected from patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and control groups. The decision tree analysis of CSF TACI and BAFF levels for patients with a PCNSL diagnosis showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when we attempted to differentiate PCNSL from glioblastoma and CNS inflammatory diseases. The combination of CSF TACI and BAFF levels may thus be a novel and useful diagnostic biomarker of PCNSL.

Autoimmune postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and circulating antiganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies. We reviewed clinical assessments of Japanese patients with POTS, and determined the presence of gAChR antibodies in serum samples from those patients. Luciferase immunoprecipitation systems detected anti-gAChR 3 and 4 antibodies in the sera from POTS (29%).