Anti-GM1 antibodies: the cause of otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegias?
OBJECTIVE
To report four patients with otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegia who were found to have elevated levels of anti-GM1 antibodies.


METHODS
Retrospective chart evaluation of 50 consecutive patients with otherwise unexplained ophthalmoparesis. All patients were tested for anti-GM1 antibodies.


RESULTS
Six out of 50 cases (12%) were found to have elevated anti-GM1 antibodies, far greater than the 2.7% found in the general population. Four of the subjects with elevated anti-GM1 antibodies are reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the mechanism and relationship between the neural antibodies and ophthalmoparesis is not understood, it is proposed that the presence of anti-GM1 antibodies should be considered in cases of otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegia.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia. strabism@netspace.net.au
Lionel
L
Kowal
Michelle Andrea
MA
Gajus
Andrew J
AJ
Kornberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005732:Gangliosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; C039129:GQ1b ganglioside