title: Correlations between cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, anti-ganglioside antibodies, electrodiagnostic findings and functional status in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to underlying autoimmune background of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), the possible role of infectious agents cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and also due to association of anti-ganglioside antibodies with GBS, the present study aimed to investigate the associations between serum anti-ganglioside antibodies (AGA) level, type of infection and electrodiagnostic (ED) findings with the severity and three-month functional outcome of patients with GBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 30 patients with GBS were selected and before starting the treatment, baseline serum samples of patients were obtained for measuring the serum AGA including the antibodies against GQ1b, GT1b, GD1a, GD1b, GM1, GM2, GM3 and strains of CMV and EBV. All the patients were precisely examined for ED findings. Functional status of patients on admission and three months after admission were recorded according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of patients' serum assessment revealed that CMV IgM was positive in one patient (3.3%), CMV IgG in 29 patients (96.7%) and EBV IgG in 27 patients (90%). Anti-GM1 was found in 3 patients (10%) and anti-GM3 was found only in one patient (3.3%). However, no statistical significant association was found between the AGA and strain of the disease and ED findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the coexistence of AGA and serum antibodies against CMV and EBV in some GBS patients, there was not clear association in this regard. However, the AGA was positive in patients who suffered from severe phase of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Aliakbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taheraghdam
authors.affiliation: Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pourkhanjar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonyadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pashapour
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sharifipour
authors.affiliation: Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rikhtegar
keywords: Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies; Cytomegalovirus; Electrodiagnostic Findings; Epstein-Barr Virus; Guillain-Barré Syndrome