title: Acquired infantile abducens palsy associated with anti-GM2 antibodies.
abstract: Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been associated with acquired neuropathies, including Guillain-Barré syndrome. We describe a case of acute abducens nerve palsy acquired 2 weeks after symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and rash in a 6-month-old. Elevated anti-GM2 ganglioside immunoglobulin M antibodies were detected in the serum. The palsy slowly improved over time, although eventually surgical intervention was required. Elevated anti-GM2 immunoglobulin M antibodies have previously been reported in Guillain-Barré syndrome variants involving sensory and cranial neuropathies, but never in isolated unilateral cranial nerve VI mononeuropathy. Anti-ganglioside antibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of postinfectious isolated abducens palsy in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Marvin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fritzler
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirton
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D005678:G(M2) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005678:G(M2) Ganglioside