Methods and materials for identifying and treating autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy
This document provides methods and materials involved in identifying and treating autoimmune GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) astrocytopathy, a novel meningoencephalomyelitis, in humans as well as methods and materials for identifying and offering early treatment for patients having autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy whose autoantibody profile predicts a high likelihood of having underlying cancer (e.g., adenocarcinoma or teratoma).
1. A method for treating an autoimmune glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy in a human, wherein said method comprises:
(a) identifying said human as having (i) meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, or all three and (ii) GFAP-specific IgG in a serum, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid sample of said human, and
(b) administering a corticosteroid compound to said human.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample is a serum or cerebrospinal fluid sample obtained from said human.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample is a cerebrospinal fluid sample.
4. A method for treating an autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy, wherein said method comprises administering a corticosteroid compound to a human identified as having said autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy based on the presence of (a) meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, or all three and (b) GFAP-specific IgG in a serum, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid sample of said human.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said corticosteroid is methylprednisolone.