Anti-peripheral nerve myelin antibodies and terminal activation products of complement in serum of patients with acute brachial plexus neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if complement-fixing antibodies to peripheral nerve myelin (anti-PNM antibodies) and terminal complement activation products were increased in serum of patients with brachial plexus neuropathy compared with normal controls.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Three patients (aged 6, 39, and 51 years) with acute brachial plexus neuropathy were studied during the acute and recovery phase of their disease.


METHODS
Anti-PNM antibodies were measured in serum samples obtained from three patients and 25 normal controls with the C1 fixation and transfer assay. Soluble terminal complement activation products, SC5b-9, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples of one patient with brachial plexus neuropathy and of five normal controls.


RESULTS
Both serum anti-PNM antibodies and soluble terminal complement activation products were increased in the acute phase of brachial plexus neuropathy compared with normal control values and decreased several months later during clinical recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Complement dependent, antibody-mediated demyelination may participate in the peripheral nerve damage of brachial plexus neuropathy.
Vriesendorp
F J
FJ
Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore.
Dmytrenko
G S
GS
Dietrich
T
T
Koski
C L
CL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000276:immunology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009185:Myelin Proteins; C047610:SC5b-9 protein complex; D003165:Complement System Proteins