To report cases of lesions in the inferior olivary nuclei (ION) in patients diagnosed with autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy and to highlight the clinical significance of these findings.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Both patients exhibited bilateral hyperintense lesions in the ION on T2-weighted MRI, suggesting a specific brainstem involvement.
Clinical symptoms included neurological deficits such as tremors, myoclonus, and autonomic dysfunction, indicating a broader clinical spectrum.
CSF analysis confirmed the presence of anti-GFAP antibodies in both cases, supporting the diagnosis of autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy.
Interpretation:
The presence of ION lesions in these cases suggests a potential association between autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy and specific brainstem involvement, which may aid in diagnosis and highlight the need for awareness among clinicians.
Limitations:
The report is based on only two cases, limiting generalizability and potential biases in case selection.
Long-term outcomes and broader implications of ION lesions in autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy remain unclear, necessitating further research.
Conclusion:
This case series highlights the importance of recognizing ION lesions in patients with autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy, which may contribute to understanding the disease's clinical spectrum and underscores the need for further research.
