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Test Code PVLE Paraneoplastic Vision Loss Evaluation, Serum


Ordering Guidance


Multiple neurological phenotype-specific autoimmune/paraneoplastic evaluations are available. For more information as well as phenotype-specific testing options, refer to Autoimmune Neurology Test Ordering Guide.

 

For a list of antibodies performed with each evaluation, see Autoimmune Neurology Antibody Matrix.



Necessary Information


Provide the following information:

-Relevant clinical information

-Ordering provider name, phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation:

1. For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication.

2. This test should not be requested for patients who have recently received radioisotopes, therapeutically or diagnostically, because of potential assay interference. The specific waiting period before specimen collection will depend on the isotope administered, the dose given, and the clearance rate in the individual patient. Specimens will be screened for radioactivity prior to analysis. Radioactive specimens received in the laboratory will be held 1 week and assayed if sufficiently decayed or canceled if radioactivity remains.

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 4 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Secondary ID

607409

Useful For

Evaluating patients with rapidly progressive vision loss where a paraneoplastic cause for vision loss (retinopathy or optic neuritis with other findings [eg, retinitis] is suspected)

 

Evaluating patients with small-cell carcinoma who develop vision loss

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
PVLEI Paraneoplas Vision Loss Interp, S No Yes
CRMS CRMP-5-IgG, S No Yes
RCVBS Recoverin Immunoblot, S Yes Yes

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
CRMWS CRMP-5-IgG Western Blot, S Yes No
CRMTS CRMP-5-IgG Titer, S No No

Testing Algorithm

If the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) patterns suggest collapsin response-mediator protein-5 (CRMP-5) antibody, then CRMP-5 IFA titer and CRMP-5 Western blot will be performed at an additional charge.

Method Name

PVLEI: Medical Interpretation

CRMTS, CRMS: Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

CRMWS: Western Blot (WB)

RCVBS: Immunoblot (IB)

Reporting Name

Paraneoplastic Vision Loss Eval, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  28 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

There are 2 recognized forms of paraneoplastic vision loss: paraneoplastic autoimmune optic neuropathy with retinopathy accompanying collapsin response-mediator protein-5 (CRMP-5)-IgG and cancer associated retinopathy (CAR) accompanying recoverin antibody. Both occur in the setting of occult small-cell carcinoma of the lung or other body region.

 

Patients with CRMP-5-IgG associated optic neuropathy commonly present with painless bilateral visual loss over weeks to months. At onset, there is typically bilateral optic disc edema without evidence of enhancement of the optic nerve on magnetic resonance imaging or elevated opening pressure on lumbar puncture. Visual acuity can range from 20/20 to hand motion. In most cases, patients have coexisting vitritis or retinitis. In addition, patients can have diplopia, usually from cerebellar involvement. The majority of patients with CRMP-5 associated optic neuropathy will have other neurologic deficits from CRMP-5 autoimmunity, such as asymmetric axonal polyradiculoneuropathy. CAR presents with subacute painless progressive bilateral (although asymmetry has been described) progressive vision loss over weeks to months, reflecting both rod and cone retinal dysfunction in most patients. Accordingly, symptoms often include nyctalopia (inability to see in dim light or at night), impaired dark adaptation, photopsia (flashes of light in the field of vision), photosensitivity, dyschromatopsia, and, ultimately, severe visual acuity loss.

 

Patients with CRMP-5-IgG-related ophthalmitis may have improvements with intra-ocular or systemic corticosteroid treatment. Patients with recoverin-related retinopathy are unlikely to have vision improvement with treatment.

Reference Values

COLLAPSIN RESPONSE-MEDIATOR PROTEIN-5-IgGNegative

 

RECOVERIN IMMUNOBLOT

Negative

 

COLLAPSIN RESPONSE-MEDIATOR PROTEIN-5 TITER

<1:240

 

COLLAPSIN RESPONSE-MEDIATOR PROTEIN-5 WESTERN BLOT

Negative

Titers lower than 1:240 are detectable by recombinant CRMP-5 Western blot analysis. CRMP-5 Western blot analysis will be done on request on stored serum (held 4 weeks). This supplemental testing is recommended in cases of chorea, vision loss, cranial neuropathy, and myelopathy. Call 1-800-533-1710 to request CRMP-5 Western blot. Neuron-restricted patterns of IgG staining that do not fulfill criteria for CRMP-5-IgG may be reported as "unclassified antineuronal IgG." Complex patterns that include non-neuronal elements may be reported as "uninterpretable."

Interpretation

Recoverin IgG:

Seropositivity is consistent with a diagnosis of paraneoplastic retinopathy. Considerations include small-cell carcinoma, pulmonary, or extrapulmonary.

 

Collapsin response-mediator protein-5 IgG:

Seropositivity is consistent with a diagnosis of paraneoplastic retinitis or ophthalmitis. Considerations include small-cell carcinoma, pulmonary, or extrapulmonary.

Cautions

Negative results do not exclude the diagnosis of paraneoplastic eye disease.

Clinical Reference

1. Cross SA, Salomao DR, Parisi JE, et al: Paraneoplastic autoimmune optic neuritis with retinitis defined by CRMP-5-IgG. Ann Neurol. 2003 Jul;54(1):38-50 doi: 10.1002/ana.10587

2. Lopez A, McKeon A, Lachance D, et al: Recoverin antibody: Ophthalmologic and oncologic significance. Neurology. 2016 Apr 5;86(16 Supplement)P6.131

Method Description

Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay:

The patient's sample is tested by a standardized immunofluorescence assay that uses a composite frozen section of mouse cerebellum, kidney, and gut tissues. After incubation with sample and washing, fluorescein-conjugated goat-antihuman IgG is applied. Neuron-specific autoantibodies are identified by their characteristic fluorescence staining patterns. Samples that are scored positive for any neuronal nuclear or cytoplasmic autoantibody are titrated to an endpoint. Interference by coexisting non-neuron-specific autoantibodies can usually be eliminated by serologic absorption.(Honorat JA, Komorowski L, Josephs KA, et al: IgLON5 antibody: neurological accompaniments and outcomes in 20 patients. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2017 Jul 18;4(5):e385. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000385)

 

Immunoblot:

All steps are performed at ambient temperature (18-28° C) utilizing the EUROBlot One instrument. Diluted patient specimen (1:12.5) is added to test strips (strips containing recombinant antigen manufactured and purified using biochemical methods) in individual channels and incubated for 30 minutes. Positive specimens will bind to the purified recombinant antigen and negative specimens will not bind. Strips are washed to remove unbound antibodies and then incubated with anti-human IgG antibodies (alkaline phosphatase-labelled) for 30 minutes. The strips are again washed to remove unbound anti-human IgG antibodies and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride/5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate (NBT/BCIP) substrate is added. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme converts the soluble substrate into a colored insoluble product on the membrane to produces a black band. Strips are digitized via picture capture on the EUROBlot One instrument and evaluated with the EUROLineScan software.(O'Connor K, Waters P, Komorowski L, et al: GABAA receptor autoimmunity: A multicenter experience. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019 Apr 4;6[3]:e552. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000552)

 

Western Blot:

Neuronal antigens extracted aqueously from adult rat cerebellum, full-length recombinant human collapsin response-mediator protein-5 (CRMP-5), or full-length recombinant human amphiphysin protein is denatured, reduced, and separated by electrophoresis on 10% polyacrylamide gel. IgG is detected autoradiographically by enhanced chemiluminescence.(Yu Z, Kryzer TJ, Griesmann GE, et al: CRMP-5 neuronal autoantibody: marker of lung cancer and thymoma-related autoimmunity. Ann Neurol. 2001;49[2]:145-154; Dubey D, Jitprapaikulsan J, Bi H, et al: Amphiphysin-IgG autoimmune neuropathy: A recognizable clinicopathologic syndrome. Neurology. 2019 Nov 12;93(20):e1873-e1880. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008472)

Specimen Retention Time

28 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

86255 x1

84182 x1

84182 CRMWS (if appropriate)

86256 CRMTS (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PVLE Paraneoplastic Vision Loss Eval, S 104992-3

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
83077 CRMP-5-IgG, S 72504-4
610009 Recoverin Immunoblot, S 83003-4
607411 Paraneoplas Vision Loss Interp, S 104993-1
618908 IFA Notes 48767-8

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732) with the specimen.

Day(s) Performed

Profile tests: Monday through Sunday; Reflex tests: Varies

Report Available

8 to 10 days