Limbic Encephalitis with HU-Antibodies in T-cell Anaplastic Lymphoma. A Case Report

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Anti-HU limbic encephalitis in lymphoma.

Abstract

Limbic encephalitis is a rare paraneoplastic neurological syndrome usually associated with small cell lung cancers, testicular and breast cancers or B-cell lymphomas. We herein report the first patients with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with HU antibodies and anaplastic T-cell lymphoma.

1. Introduction

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are rare neurological disorders occurring in less than 1% of people, with malignancy not due to direct tumor infiltration or metastases, infection, ischemia, metabolic or nutritional deficits, nor chemotherapy side effects [1,2]. Hematological malignancies are rarely associated with PNS [3,4]. In the largest cohort of PNS patients (974 subjects) so far described, only 24 (2.7%) had Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and 29 (3.2%) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), all of cell type B [3]. The most common PNS was paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, often associated with anti-Tr antibodies. Limbic encephalitis has also been described in lymphomas, with antibodies to Tr and Ma2 [3]. Subsequently, the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been identified as another target antigen in limbic encephalitis in HL, also known as Ophelia syndrome. We report on the first patient with limbic encephalitis and HU antibodies, also known as Anti-ANNA1-associated encephalitis, in a T-cell anaplastic lymphoma [5].

2. Case Report

A 56-year-old man with an unremarkable past medical history started complaining of back pain, sexual and sphincteric disturbances (causa equine syndrome) and lower limb paralysis secondary to a paravertebral mass that a biopsy revealed to be an ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) negative anaplastic T-cell lymphoma. Seizures were also present. Bone marrow biopsy was negative for disease localization. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed central nervous system (CNS) involvement: pleocytosis, 260 white blood cells/µL (nv 0–5), comprising predominantly malignant T lymphocytes, proteins 4.77 g/L (nv 0.15–0.45) and lactate 6.6 mmol/L (nv 1.1–2.4). Extensive microbiological testing for infectious agents was negative. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintense focal cerebral altered signal intensity with vasogenic edema and diffusion restriction involving the limbic system (right mesial temporal lobe, insula, cingulate gyrus and hypothalamus). Laboratory findings were unremarkable, except for an LDH increase (540 U/L, n.v. < 200 U/L). A panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus likely secondary to lymphoma infiltration was also diagnosed and managed successfully with desmopressin, levothyroxine, cortisone acetate and sodium replacement therapy. Taking into account CNS involvement, the patient was treated with three courses of MATRIX (methotrexate, cytarabine and thiotepa), followed by two courses of ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide), with resolution of neurologic symptoms, radiologic findings and lymphoma remission [6]. Soon after the second course of ICE, the patient developed confusion, memory loss, and religious delirium. Generalized seizures also recurred. A neuropsychological evaluation demonstrated a significant impairment restricted to the memory domain, whereas executive and visuo-spatial functions were partially involved (Mini-Mental State Exam = 26/30). Brain and spine MRI, as well as whole body positron emission tomography (PET)-MRI, while ruling out lymphoma progression, revealed recurrence of focal cerebral altered signal intensity with diffusion restriction involving the limbic system (Figure 1A). Autoantibody screening was positive for the anti-HU (antineuronal nuclear autoantibody type 1) antibody. Based on the combination of symptoms, MRI findings and paraneoplastic antibodies, a diagnosis of anti-HU limbic encephalitis was made (

Table 1. Biochemical data.

Markers	Normal Value	Patient’s Data	Markers	Normal Value	Patient’s Data
Blood analysis
WBC	4.0–11 × 109/L	3.5 × 109/L	LDH	135–225 U/L	173 U/L
Lymphocyte	1.1–4.8 × 109/L	0.7 × 109/L	Creatinine	59–100 μmol/L	43 mol/L
Neutrophils	1.8–7.8 × 109/L	2.1 × 109/L	AST	10–45 U/L	17 U/L
Hemoglobin	140–170 g/L	87 g/L	ALT	10–50 U/L	32 U/L
Platelets	150–450 × 109/L	157 × 109/L	Protein	64–83 g/L	48 g/L
ESR	2–37 mm/h	5 mm/h	IgG	7–16 g/L	6.05 g/L
CRP	<6 mg/L	7 mg/L	Presepsin	57–37 g/L	148 ng/L
Cerebrospinal fluid tests
Protein	0.15–0.45	0.6 g/L	Glucose	2.2–3.9 mmol/L	2.7 mmol/L
Lactate	1.1–2.4 mmol/L	3.9 mmol/L	Red cells	0/μL	0/μL
anti-HU	negative	positive	CASPR2	negative	negative
anti-AMPA	negative	negative	anti-LG1	negative	negative
anti-GABA	negative	negative	anti-YO	negative	negative
anti-NMDAR	negative	negative	anti-RI	negative	negative
anti-amphiphysin	negative	negative	oligoclonal bands	negative	negative

WBC = white blood cells, ESR = erythrocytes sedimentation rate, CRP = C-reactive protein LDH = lactic dehydrogenase, AST = aspartic aminotransferase, ALT = alanine aminotransferase.

). A further neuropsychological evaluation revealed a more extensive impairment in anterograde amnesia, fluencies, processing speed and executive and visuo-spatial domain. After treatment with methylprednisolone (1 g IV for three days) and seven sessions of plasma exchange, the patient regained his status ante (Figure 1B). He then started steroid maintenance therapy and underwent autologous stem cell transplantation with thiotepa/carmustine as a conditioning regimen. The response to therapy, assessed by PET-MRI and brain and spine MRI, showed a complete remission of lymphoma and substantial improvement of the encephalitis MRI findings, with only few small spots of cerebral altered signal intensity with vasogenic edema being left. Brain MRI control two months later confirmed the same findings, but also revealed hippocampal atrophy as a long-term impact of limbic encephalitis (Figure 1C). The patient therefore started regular hematological follow-up. He died one year later, still in hematological remission, as a consequence of pneumonia.

3. Discussion

PNS are rarely associated with B-cell lymphomas, with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration being the most common neurological manifestation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported patient with limbic encephalitis associated with the HU antibody, also known as Anti-ANNA1-associated encephalitis, in a T-cell lymphoma [3]. The paraneoplastic syndrome responded well to immunomodulant therapy and lymphoma treatment, with the patient regaining both full functionality and lymphoma remission.

Metabotropic antigens, namely mGluR5, have recently been identified as possible antibody targets in limbic encephalitis in lymphomas. Limbic encephalitis with anti-mGluR5 antibodies shows a good prognosis, as was the case in our patient and in the first described subject with Ophelia syndrome [5]. The possibility of a concurrent small cell lung cancer (known to express the HU antigen) has likely been ruled out considering the negative whole-body PET-MRI during the active encephalitis phase [7]. Another two patients with HU-associated limbic encephalitis and HL had previously been described in one case with clinical response to therapy [8,9].

The pathogenesis of PNS in hematological malignancies is, however, still unclear, being onconeural antigens not expressed by lymphoma cells. The favorable outcome of the PNS is likely due to the limited central nervous system damage, once/whenever the syndrome is recognized, and appropriate treatment is started in the early phases of the disease [10].

In conclusion, we report on a rare case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with HU antibodies in a patient with anaplastic T-cell lymphoma that completely responded to the hematological therapy. MATRIX and ICE therapy completely eradicated the CNS localization of the lymphoma, as supported by negative CSF and neuroimaging. However, a paraneoplastic syndrome occurred, as supported by onconeural antibody positivity and brain neuroimaging as well as the response to therapy.