title: Affinity of anti-GM1 antibodies in Guillain-Barré syndrome patients.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the affinity of anti-GM1 IgG antibodies as well as their IgG subclass distribution in a series of 38 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome. In 7 sera elevated titres of IgG anti-GM1 antibodies could be detected. With respect to affinity there were two distinct groups of anti-GM1 antibodies: one group was of high affinity and did not cross-react with other glycolipids; the other group was of low affinity and cross-reacted with asialo-GM1. IgG1 was the predominant and almost exclusive subclass of high affinity anti-GM1 antibodies. Axonal degeneration occurred significantly more frequently in patients with high affinity anti-GM1 antibodies than in patients without anti-GM1 antibodies or in patients with low affinity anti-GM1 antibodies. The presence of anti-Campylobacter jejuni antibodies was not associated with a specific electrophysiological pattern. The prognosis was not dependent on the detection of any of the antibodies, whereas axonal loss and ventilation were associated with a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deisenhammer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keir
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfausler
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside