Axonal Neuropathy, Autoimmune/Paraneoplastic Evaluation, Serum (Sendout)

Useful For:

• Evaluation of patients who present with a subacute neurological disorder of undetermined etiology, especially those with known risk factors for cancer
• Directing a focused search for cancer
• Investigating neurological symptoms that appear during, or after, cancer therapy, and are not explainable by metastasis
• Differentiating autoimmune neuropathies from neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy
• Detecting early evidence of cancer recurrence in previously seropositive patients

Testing Algorithm: Reflex testing may be performed at additional charge. Refer to Mayo's algorithm below.

• Mayo Autoimmune/Paraneoplastic Axonal Neuropathy Evaluation Algorithm

Patient Preparation:

• For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment.

• 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.

Ordering Requirements: Laboratory Medicine Resident (LMR) approval is required.