title: Polyneuropathy and IgM monoclonal gammopathy: studies on the pathogenetic role of anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibody.
abstract: Attention has recently been directed toward patients having a polyneuropathy and a monoclonal IgM anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) antibody. The possibility of a pathogenetic role for the anti-MAG antibody in the evolution of the polyneuropathy and in the development of central nervous system signs, including tremor and ataxia, remains unresolved. In 5 patients with this syndrome whose clinical courses were followed closely, in 1 of whom a complete postmortem examination of the nervous system was performed, we made the following observations: the anti-MAG antibody did not localize to the compact layer of the myelin sheath in affected nerves, but did localize to areas of myelin splitting; anti-MAG antibody present in the sural nerve of an affected individual for 7 years was not associated with progressive pathology; anti-MAG antibody was not deposited in the central nervous system of an affected individual, although the antibody did bind to these same tissues in vitro; deposition of anti-MAG antibody observed at postmortem examination did not correlate with the degree of pathological change; and study of the peripheral nervous system favored a primary axonal neuropathy with secondary demyelination.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mendell
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sahenk
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Griggs
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Quarles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein