title: Leukocyte oxygen radical production determines disease severity in the recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. charlotta.movitz@microbio.gu.se.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mossberg
authors.forename: Oluf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svedhem
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellstrand
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Movitz