Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Antibodies

Specimen

Serum

Special Instructions

Minimum sample volume: 3 ml

Test Usage

Potassium channel antibodies are found in patients with acquired neuromyotonia (40-50%), Morvan’s syndrome, limbic encephalitis (paraneoplastic and idiopathic), as well as patients with facio-brachial dystonic seizures (FBDS). Both Morvan’s and Limbic Enceophalitis can be associated with thymoma or small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

VGKC antibodies have recently been renamed VGKC-complex antibodies, as it is now recognised that the VGKCs are tightly complexed with other proteins and that the radioimmunoprecipitaion assay recognises the complexed proteins as well as the VGKCs themselves. The most common complex proteins discovered so far are LGI1 and CASPR2. However, as not all the complex proteins have been identified, we recommend testing for VGKC-complex antibodies as a first step.

Turnaround time

Monthly

Availability

Referred Test

Assayed By

This investigation is performed at the Immunology Department, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LJ.