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T Cell–mediated ganglionitis associated with acute sensory neuronopathy
Author(s) -
Hainfellner Johann Andreas,
Kristoferitsch Wolfgang,
Lassmann Hans,
Bernheimer Hanno,
Neisser Andrea,
Drlicek Marcus,
Beer Franz,
Budka Herbert
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410390418
Subject(s) - sensory system , ganglion , ataxia , medicine , autopsy , neuroscience , inflammation , cd8 , cytotoxic t cell , pathology , autonomic ganglion , immune system , immunology , biology , anatomy , biochemistry , in vitro
A 67‐year‐old man presented with acute painful sensory loss, areflexia, ataxia, urinary retention, and severe constipation and became unable to walk within 2 weeks. He died suddenly 5 weeks after the onset of symptoms. Autopsy revealed widespread inflammation of sensory and autonomic ganglia with immunocytochemical evidence of a CD8+ T cell‐mediated cytotoxic attack against ganglion neurons. This observation suggests a novel pathogenetic mechanism of immune‐mediated human ganglion cell damage comparable to mechanisms operating in polymy‐ositis.