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CASE REPORT article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders : Autoimmune Disorders
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1390171
This article is part of the Research Topic Case Reports in Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders View all 39 articles

Case Report: Recurring Potassium Channel Complex Autoimmunity-related Neuropathic Pain

Provisionally accepted
Yun-Qing Zhu Yun-Qing Zhu 1Xin-Qiao Zhou Xin-Qiao Zhou 2*Min Yang Min Yang 2*Smita Horill Smita Horill 1Zhong-Yun Wang Zhong-Yun Wang 2*Jian-Jun Yang Jian-Jun Yang 3*Yin-Bing Pan Yin-Bing Pan 2*Xiao-Kai Zhou Xiao-Kai Zhou 2*
  • 1 Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 2 First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 3 First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex autoimmunity associated with nerve hyperexcitability is an uncommon clinical spectrum. It is mostly characterized by limbic encephalitis, continuous neuromyotonia and dysautonomia. Pain, however, has rarely been reported as the first symptom. The present study describes a case of persistent neuropathic pain as the only symptom associated with a positive serum contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) auto-antibody in a 41-year-old female patient. Her pain was completely relieved with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. Nevertheless, the pain recurred 1 year later, consistent with an immunofluorescence titer of the CASPR2 antibody. Our case shows that neuropathic pain may occur as the first and only manifestation of VGKC complex autoimmunity disorder. VGKC antibody titers might be an indication of pain severity. Steroids coupled with IVIG are effective, but relapse may still occur.

    Keywords: voltage-gated potassium channel, neuropathic pain, contactin-associated protein-like 2, Recurrence, Antibody titer

    Received: 22 Feb 2024; Accepted: 03 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhu, Zhou, Yang, Horill, Wang, Yang, Pan and Zhou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Xin-Qiao Zhou, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    Min Yang, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    Zhong-Yun Wang, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    Jian-Jun Yang, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
    Yin-Bing Pan, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    Xiao-Kai Zhou, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China

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