Increased seroprevalence of parvovirus B 19 IgG in complex regional pain syndrome is not associated with antiendothelial autoimmunity

The etiology of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is unclear yet. Recently autoantibodies and antecedent viral infections have been discussed to be involved in the pathogenesis of CRPS. We investigated sera from 39 CRPS patients and healthy controls for parvovirus B19 IgG and the occurrence of antiendothelial autoantibodies (AECA). CRPS patients showed a higher seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG than controls (p < 0.01). All CRPS 2 patients were positive. 10.2% of the CRPS patients and 10.0% of the controls had AECA (n.s.) and AECA were not associated with parvovirus B19 seropositivity. Our findings suggest the involvement of parvovirus B19, but not autoantibody-mediated endothelial c…

Autoantibodies in complex regional pain syndrome bind to a differentiation-dependent neuronal surface autoantigen.

Complex regional pain syndrome, which is characterised by pain and trophic disturbances, develops frequently after peripheral limb trauma. There is an increasing evidence of an involvement of the immune system in CRPS, and recently we showed that CRPS patients have autoantibodies against nervous system structures. Therefore we tested the sera of CRPS patients, neuropathy patients and healthy volunteers for surface-binding autoantibodies to primary cultures of autonomic neurons and differentiated neuroblastoma cell lines using flow cytometry. Thirteen of 30 CRPS patients, but none of 30 healthy controls and only one of the 20 neuropathy sera had specific surface binding to autonomic neurons …

Frequency of Fabry disease in patients with small-fibre neuropathy of unknown aetiology: a pilot study

Background:  Early occurrence of small-fibre neuropathy (SFN) is a common feature of Fabry disease (FD) – an X-linked storage disorder caused by reduced activity of the α-galactosidase A (α-GAL). Although SFN may result from different disorders, the cause is often unclear. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of FD in patients with SFN of unknown aetiology. Methods:  Patients with idiopathic SFN, established by sensory quantitative testing and/or skin biopsy, were examined for mutations in the α-GAL gene. Where mutations in the α-GAL gene were identified, levels of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) were measured in urine and blood and the α-GAL activity was evaluated. When new mutations were …

T241 INCREASED PREVALENCE OF NON-ORGAN SPECIFIC AUTOANTIBODIES IN COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME