AGID is diagnosed with a complete medical history, exam of patients motility and with special blood tests looking for autoantibodies consistent with neurologic autoimmunity.[2] Blood tests included evaluations of immunofluorescence (neuronal nuclear and cytoplasmic antibodies), radioimmunoprecipitation assays (neuronal and muscle plasma membrane cation channel antibodies), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (muscle striational antibodies). A finding, along with medical history, of ganglionic neuronal acetylcholine receptor and N-type voltage-gated calcium channel autoantibodies in the blood stream would result in a medically acceptable diagnosis of AGID.[3]
Medications to relieve nausea and vomiting or to enhance mobility may be helpful, as may cholinesterase inhibitors. Immunotherapy and plasma exchange have also been reportedly effective.[4]Pyridostigmine is a pharmaceutical treatment option for patients with AGID.[3]
In severe cases patients with AGID are required to abandon eating foods, requiring them to get nourishment through a process called parenteral nutrition, where the patient is fed via a permanent IV and the liquid nourishment is infused directly in the blood stream, as opposed to a feeding tube.[5]
