Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise
Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis (GFAP-A), a novel inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, manifests with insidious onset and demonstrates protean clinical manifestations, which frequently leads to diagnostic ambiguity in early disease stages. We descri...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1546372/full |
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| author | Wen Zhao Luyao Gong Junbin Wang Zhiguang Chen Zhiguang Chen Zhe Li Zhe Li Qiaozhen Su Qiaozhen Su Youbi Shen Youbi Shen Chunye Zheng Chunye Zheng |
| author_facet | Wen Zhao Luyao Gong Junbin Wang Zhiguang Chen Zhiguang Chen Zhe Li Zhe Li Qiaozhen Su Qiaozhen Su Youbi Shen Youbi Shen Chunye Zheng Chunye Zheng |
| author_sort | Wen Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis (GFAP-A), a novel inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, manifests with insidious onset and demonstrates protean clinical manifestations, which frequently leads to diagnostic ambiguity in early disease stages. We describe three typical GFAP-A cases exhibiting multisystem neurological involvement. Our observations show that GFAP-A frequently clinically mimics tuberculous meningitis (TBM), autoimmune encephalitis (AE), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other neurological diseases. Notably, isolated ataxia is a rare presentation in GFAP-A, which allows us usually to consider spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Currently, no established diagnostic criteria or standard treatment protocols exist for GFAP-A. Patients with GFAP-A respond well to corticosteroid therapy. We found detecting GFAP-IgG in cerebrospinal fluid or serum is essential for differentiation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e592a9e40e64b84b09fe5645c0f10a8 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e592a9e40e64b84b09fe5645c0f10a82025-07-15T04:10:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15463721546372Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguiseWen Zhao0Luyao Gong1Junbin Wang2Zhiguang Chen3Zhiguang Chen4Zhe Li5Zhe Li6Qiaozhen Su7Qiaozhen Su8Youbi Shen9Youbi Shen10Chunye Zheng11Chunye Zheng12The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Second School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, ChinaAutoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis (GFAP-A), a novel inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, manifests with insidious onset and demonstrates protean clinical manifestations, which frequently leads to diagnostic ambiguity in early disease stages. We describe three typical GFAP-A cases exhibiting multisystem neurological involvement. Our observations show that GFAP-A frequently clinically mimics tuberculous meningitis (TBM), autoimmune encephalitis (AE), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other neurological diseases. Notably, isolated ataxia is a rare presentation in GFAP-A, which allows us usually to consider spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Currently, no established diagnostic criteria or standard treatment protocols exist for GFAP-A. Patients with GFAP-A respond well to corticosteroid therapy. We found detecting GFAP-IgG in cerebrospinal fluid or serum is essential for differentiation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1546372/fullglial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosisastrocytesautoantibodiesautoimmune encephalitisautoimmune neurologymeningoencephalitis |
| spellingShingle | Wen Zhao Luyao Gong Junbin Wang Zhiguang Chen Zhiguang Chen Zhe Li Zhe Li Qiaozhen Su Qiaozhen Su Youbi Shen Youbi Shen Chunye Zheng Chunye Zheng Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise Frontiers in Immunology glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis astrocytes autoantibodies autoimmune encephalitis autoimmune neurology meningoencephalitis |
| title | Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| title_full | Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| title_fullStr | Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| title_short | Case Reports: Three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| title_sort | case reports three cases of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis in disguise |
| topic | glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytosis astrocytes autoantibodies autoimmune encephalitis autoimmune neurology meningoencephalitis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1546372/full |
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