GM 1 antibodies in Guillain-Barré syndrome: isotypes, course and clinical outcome
Seiser, A.; Pötzl, G.; Safoschnik, G.; Pichler, S.; Bernheimer, H.; Schwerer, B.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 106(6): 159-163
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5325 PMID: 8197746 Document Number: 435655
IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies against ganglioside GM 1 were investigated in sera of 15 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), as compared with healthy controls. Significantly raised titers were found in 4 patients who showed persisting weakness due to muscle wasting (3 patients) or due to the development of a chronic relapsing form of GBS (1 patient) after a follow up period of 1 year. By contrast, only 1 out of 11 anti-GM 1 seronegative patients showed persisting muscle wasting. In 1 patient with GBS following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis an IgA anti-GM 1 immune response was found to predominate, suggesting that this immune response may be due to crossreactivity between GM 1 and Campylobacter antigens. We conclude that elevated antibody titers against ganglioside GM 1 may be a valuable marker to predict poor motor recovery in GBS.