Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis is associated with which type of antibodies?

Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis is closely associated with antibodies targeting Hu antigens. Hu proteins are a family of neuronal RNA-binding proteins that can be aberrantly expressed in certain tumors, particularly small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). When these tumors produce Hu proteins, the immune system can generate antibodies against them, leading to neurological symptoms such as encephalitis and myelitis without direct tumor invasion of the nervous system.

The production of Hu antibodies is a classic example of a paraneoplastic syndrome, where immune responses to tumor-associated antigens cross-react with normal neuronal tissues, resulting in the clinical manifestations of encephalomyelitis. This association serves as a notable diagnostic marker for patients presenting with neurologic deficits and a suspected underlying malignancy, particularly in the context of small cell lung cancer.

Other antibodies listed, while associated with different neurological disorders, do not pertain to paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. NMDA receptor antibodies are linked to conditions like encephalitis in the context of ovarian teratomas, while anti-presynaptic Ca2+ channel antibodies are associated with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Similarly, antibodies against acetylcholine receptors are linked to myasthenia gravis and not to the par