Leukocyte oxygen radical production determines disease severity in the recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome (RGBS) is characterized by at least two GBS episodes with intervening remission. In a previous study of monophasic GBS, we reported that the magnitude of oxygen radical production ("respiratory burst") in peripheral blood leukocytes was inversely correlated to disease severity. The present study sought to establish a similar correlation in patients with RGBS.


METHODS
Oxygen radical production in leukocytes was induced by formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF), Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met-NH2 (WKYMVM), or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and assessed by quantifying superoxide anion formed by the leukocyte NADPH oxidase.


RESULTS
Disease severity, assessed using the MRC score, was negatively correlated to superoxide anion production triggered by fMLF or WKYMVM (p = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively; n = 10). Superoxide anion production also was significantly lower in RGBS patients with incomplete recovery after stimulation with fMLF (p = 0.004) or WKYMVM (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a lower respiratory burst in leukocytes is strongly associated with a severe course of RGBS.
Mossberg
Natalia
N
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. charlotta.movitz@microbio.gu.se.
Andersen
Oluf
O
Nordin
Magnus
M
Nilsson
Staffan
S
Svedhem
Ake
A
Bergström
Tomas
T
Hellstrand
Kristoffer
K
Movitz
Charlotta
C