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ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy with eosinophils on cerebrospinal fluid cytology and isolated spinal cord lesions on MRI: a case report.

Dongdong Zhang, Yahan Song, Yongjie Bai, Junqiang Yan, Ruile Shen

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Dongdong ZhangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
Yahan SongDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
Yongjie BaiDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
Junqiang YanDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
Ruile ShenDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system associated with GFAP-IgG. It most commonly presents as meningoencephalitis, myelitis, or meningoencephalomyelitis. Although MRI abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord are common, isolated spinal cord lesions without corresponding brain MRI abnormalities are uncommon and may pose a diagnostic challenge. Eosinophils identified on cerebrospinal fluid cytology have rarely been reported in this disorder. Case presentation: A 31-year-old woman presented with fever, headache, urinary retention, and meningeal irritation signs. Despite these findings, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable, whereas spinal MRI revealed discontinuous patchy long-segment intramedullary lesions in the thoracic cord. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed elevated opening pressure, pleocytosis, increased protein, and 10% eosinophils on cytological examination. Infectious studies, including CSF culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing, were negative. Serum and CSF antibodies against aquaporin-4, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and myelin basic protein were negative, whereas CSF GFAP-IgG was positive at a titer of 1:32, while serum GFAP-IgG was negative. Following high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone and an oral prednisone taper, the patient showed marked clinical, CSF, and radiological improvement, with complete resolution of thoracic cord lesions on follow-up MRI. Conclusion: Isolated spinal cord lesions on MRI may represent an important clue to autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy and should prompt consideration of this diagnosis even in the absence of brain MRI abnormalities. The presence of eosinophils on cerebrospinal fluid cytology may further suggest a distinct inflammatory profile and offer insight into the pathophysiology of the disease.

Indexed as

AstrocytesEosinophilsGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinSpinal CordAdultAutoantibodiesBiomarkersFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingAutoantibodiesBiomarkersGFAP protein, humanGlial Fibrillary Acidic Proteinautoimmune GFAP astrocytopathycase reportcerebrospinal fluid cytologycerebrospinal fluid eosinophiliaisolated spinal cord lesionsmyelitis

Identifiers

PMID42382773
PMCPMC13314502

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