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Voltage gated potassium channel antibodies (VGKC)- an autoantibody of unknown significance to ME/CFS

Voltage gated potassium channel antibodies (VGKC)

A type of autoantibody against Potassium ion channels found on neuronal (nerve) cell membranes and responsible for nerve transmission and returning of neuron to resting potential. Essential for normal.functioning of all organ systems

Voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC)-complex antibodies can be associated with a range of. clinical presentations including limbic encephalitis, Morvan's syndrome and acquired neuromyotonia. However, there are patients with positive levels in whom the significance is uncertain[1]

Already known syndromes from antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels include neuromyotonia (NMT), limbic encephalitis (LE) and Morvan syndrome (MVS). There are distinct clinical features for NMT (cramps, stiffness, fasciculations, myokymia, hyperhidrosis; afterdischarges and continuous motor activity on electromyogram), LE (encephalopathy with seizures, deficient recent memory; hyponatremia, temporal lobe magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalographic abnormalities) and MVS (NMT plus hyperhidrosis, dysautonomia, encephalopathy, severe insomnia, and sleep disorders). There may be associated myasthenia gravis or thymoma, and rarely lung cancer (small cell or adenocarcinoma [2]

Detected in some sufferers of CFS but of unknown significance

[1] http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/85/6/625?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=J_Neurol_Neurosurg_Psychiatry_TrendMD_1

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20816272/

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

autoantibody An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

cell membrane A very thin membrane, composed of lipids and protein, that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell and controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell.

dysautonomia disorders of the autonomic nervous system that cause disturbances in all or some autonomic functions, may cause problems regulating autonomic functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and digestion. Can cause symptoms including lightheadedness, fainting, unstable blood pressure, and orthostatic intolerance.