[Paraneoplastic subacute degeneration of the cerebellum in non-small cell lung cancer and positive anti-Tr3 antibodies]. / Paraneoplastische subakute Degeneration des Kleinhirns bei nichtkleinzelligem Bronchialkarzinom und positiven Anti-Tr3-Antikörpern.

ABSTRACT

Neurological disorders can occur before the diagnosis of a malignoma is set. These disorders are induced by a misguided immune response with antibodies against intracellular or cell surface antigens. One of the most common paraneoplastic diseases is the subacute degeneration of the cerebellum. In most of the cases antibodies against Anti Hu, CRMP5/CV2, Amphiphysin and Ma/Ta are found and small cell bronchial carcinoma, breast cancer and lymphoma are diagnosed. We report about a 67 years old man with cerebellar symptoms and a weight loss of 10 kg who was treated in our clinic. After our diagnostic work up we found a non small cell cancer and diagnosed a subacute degeneration of the cerebellum as a paraneoplastic disorder. We found a high positive titer for Anti-Tr3 antibodies while the rest of the paraneoplastic antibodies described as typically associated with the subacute degeneration of the cerebellum were negative. The Anti-Tr3 antibodies are usually found in patients with Hodgkin and less often Non-Hodgkin disease. After initiation of a tumor specific therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy the cerebellar symptoms decreased. In future follow up examinations we will see if the anti-Tr3 antibodies were associated with the non small cell bronchial carcinoma or if a lymphoma will occur in our patient.