Predictive value of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies in neuromuscular diseases: a study of 180 sera.
The incidence of anti-GM1 antibodies in the serum of 104 patients with neurological diseases, 35 patients with non-neurological diseases (NND) and 41 normal controls was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-GM1 antibodies were found in 90% of patients presenting with a motor neuropathy (all except one had multifocal conduction blocks). A large proportion (60%) of these patients displayed high antibody titer ranging from 101 to 788. A low incidence of anti-GM1 antibodies was found in the other groups of patients, i.e. 21% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 26% of other neurological diseases (OND) and 23% of NND. High antibody titers ranging from 106 to 260 were found in two (5%) ALS patients, one (2%) OND patient (myasthenia gravis), and one (3%) NND patient (Waldenström's disease). This study shows that high titers of anti-GM1 antibodies are found in a large proportion of patients with motor neuropathy with multifocal conduction blocks. This argues for a possible autoimmune origin of this neuropathy. We suggest that anti-GM1 antibody determination should be included systematically in the evaluation of all patients with motor neuron diseases and predominantly motor neuropathies.
Adams
D
D
Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Kuntzer
T
T
Burger
D
D
Chofflon
M
M
Magistris
M R
MR
Regli
F
F
Steck
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside