Systemic lupus erythematosus with anti-Hu antibodies and polyradiculoneuropathy.

High titers of anti-Hu antibodies are restricted to patients with paraneoplastic diseases and are usually associated with small cell lung cancer of indolent growth.1 We report a patient who developed anti-Hu antibodies and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), without any evidence of an underlying cancer. A 28-year-old woman was admitted in May 1997 with a 6-month history of progressive bilateral leg and hand paresthesia. She was a nonsmoker and had no relevant past history. Neurologic examination showed only proximal weakness of the limbs. Reflexes were present and sensation normal. Electromyography (EMG) showed prolonged distal motor latencies (left ulnar 4.5 milliseconds, left peroneal 6.8 milliseconds) with normal amplitudes. Sensory responses were normal. CSF protein level was 3.8 g/L with 9 cells/mm3. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer was 1:320 and anti-nuclear mitogen apparatus antibody (anti-NUMA) 1:20,000. …