Anti-ganglioside antibodies in coeliac disease with neurological disorders.
BACKGROUND
Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been described in sera of coeliac patients with peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar ataxia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between anti-ganglioside antibodies and neurological involvement in coeliac disease before and after gluten-free diet.


METHODS
Twenty-two untreated coeliac patients with neurological dysfunction and 30 untreated coeliacs without neurological dysfunction, 20 patients with neurological disorders, 50 autoimmune disease and 20 blood donors were tested for anti-GM1, anti-GD1b and anti-GQ1b IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
IgG antibodies to at least one of the three antigens tested were positive in 64% of coeliac patients with neurological symptoms compared to 30% of coeliacs without neurological dysfunction (P=0.02), 50% of patients with neurological disorders (P=ns), 20% with autoimmune diseases (P=0.003) and none of blood donors (P=0.0001). A strict gluten-free diet determined anti-ganglioside antibody disappearance in about half of coeliacs.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant correlation between anti-ganglioside antibodies and neurological disorders in patients with an underlying coeliac disease has been found. Anti-ganglioside antibodies may represent a new immunological marker to identify neurological impairment in patients with coeliac disease.
Volta
U
U
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, University of Bologna, Building 11, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti, 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. uvolta@aosp.bo.it
De Giorgio
R
R
Granito
A
A
Stanghellini
V
V
Barbara
G
G
Avoni
P
P
Liguori
R
R
Petrolini
N
N
Fiorini
E
E
Montagna
P
P
Corinaldesi
R
R
Bianchi
F B
FB
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005732:Gangliosides