title: IgM anti-GM1 antibodies in the Guillain-Barré syndrome: a serological predictor of the clinical course.
abstract: It has been suggested that antibodies against GM1 are involved in the pathogenesis of the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Recently, we have developed a standardized ELISA assay for anti-GM1 antibodies of IgM type well-suited for longitudinal patient studies. The relationship between serum antibodies against GM1 and Campylobacter jejuni was investigated in patients with GBS and in patients with C. jejuni infection. Patients with a short-lasting anti-GM1 elevation had a fast recovery, whereas patients with slow recovery had a long-lasting anti-GM1 elevation. A linear relationship was found between significant clinical recovery and the time until the anti-GM1 peak was halved (R = 0.9, p < 0.01). The absolute level of anti-GM1 did not predict the length of the recovery nor was the level of anti-GM1 related to the clinical disability at its nadir. Our data indicate that monitoring of the IgM anti-GM1 level can predict clinical recovery in GBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Orntoft
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skinhøj
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside