DIAGNOSTIC TEST PANEL 585

Autoimmune Epilepsy

Diagnostic test panel for antibodies against GAD, AMPAR 1/2, LGI1, CASPR2, NMDA-R, and GABA-BR. For suspicion of autoimmune epilepsy.

Indication

Suspicion of autoimmune epilepsy

Clinical background

Autoimmune epilepsy is caused by or associated with antibodies and sometimes linked to cancer. In 2017, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) recognized that epilepsy can be a symptom of an immune disorder with seizures as a core symptom. An immune etiology to epilepsy should be considered if epilepsy, of unknown cause, is associated with evidence of autoimmune-mediated central nervous system (CNS) inflammation.

The clinical picture of autoimmune epilepsy is varying and can present with anything from a simple seizure to severe cases of autoimmune encephalitis.

The identification of autoimmune epilepsy cases is of importance because many of the affected patients have a favorable prognosis with immunotherapy.

References

  • Quek AM. et al., Arch Neurol. 2012 May; 69 (5):582-93. Autoimmune epilepsy: clinical characteristics and response to immunotherapy.
  • Brenner T. et al., Epilepsia 2013, 54 (6); 1028-1035. Prevalence of neurologic autoantibodies in cohorts of patients with new and established epilepsy.
  • Greco A. et al., Autoimmunity Reviews, 2016 March, Volume 15, Issue 3, 221-225. Autoimmune epilepsy.
  • Bien C. et al., Epilepsy Curr. 2017 May-Jun;17(3):134-141. Autoimmune Epilepsy: Encephalitis with Autoantibodies for Epileptologists.
  • Spatola M., Dalmau J., Curr Opinion Neurology 2017 June; 30 (3):345-353. Seizures and risk of epilepsy in autoimmune and other inflammatory encephalitis.
  • Dubey D. et al., Epilepsy 2017 58 (7) 1181-1189. Predictive models in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune epilepsy.
  • Lindsay M. Higdon, MD, Practical Neurology, OCTOBER 2018. Autoimmune Epilepsy - A newly recognized category of epilepsy caused by or associated with antibodies. https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2018-oct/autoimmune-epilepsy

Tests included in panel

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How to order

This test panel is available worldwide for hospitals, clinics, and physicians.

  1. Print and complete the request form

    Download the request form. Clearly state the name and phone number of the referring hospital, clinic, or physician.

  2. Prepare your samples

    Serum: At least 1.5 mL serum (plain serum tubes without additives).
    CSF: At least 2.5 mL CSF (polypropylene tubes).

  3. Send samples and request form

    Within Sweden
    Samples can be sent at room temperature to:
    Envelopes and smaller boxes:
    Wieslab AB, Box 50117, 20211 Malmö, Sweden

    Larger boxes and frozen samples:
    Wieslab AB, Lundavägen 151, 21224 Malmö, Sweden

    International
    Send samples cold to:
    Wieslab AB, Lundavägen 151, 21224 Malmö, Sweden

Read our sampling instructions for more information

Last updated: 2025-08-18