title: Association of IgM type anti-GM1 antibodies and muscle strength in chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy.
abstract: The pathogenetic role of anti-GM1 in chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy (CADP) is uncertain. An association between antibodies and disease activity has not yet been established. In 8 patients with CADP followed longitudinally, anti-GM1 antibodies were monitored with a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique and muscle performance with isokinetic dynamometry. During a mean observation period of 24 months, strength improved in 6 of 8 patients by a median value of 54.5%, and anti-GM1 fell in all 6 patients; the reduction being 43%. In 2 patients, muscle performance deteriorated by 30 and 8%, whereas anti-GM1 titers increased by 10 and 9%, respectively. The relative change in anti-GM1 was inversely related to muscle performance. Clinical scoring of muscle performance according to the Medical Research Council scale failed to show an association with anti-GM1. It is concluded that anti-GM1 antibodies are closely related to disease activity, and that the close association indicates a role of anti-GM1 in the pathogenesis of CADP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Orntoft
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside