SERUM ANTIBODIES AGAINST GANGLIOSIDES AND CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN MILLER-FISHER-SYNDROME

Seven patients with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), six in the acute pha se and one in the recovery phase, were investigated for serum antibodi es against gangliosides and purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from di fferent strains of Campylobacter jejuni, including the MFS-associated serotypes 0:2 and 0:23. Immunoglobulin G antibodies against gangliosid es GT1a and GQ1b were found in five of six patients in the acute phase of disease, Three of these patients also displayed antibodies to gang lioside GD2, a finding not previously reported for MFS, All anti-GT1a- and anti-GQ1b-seropositive patients showed antibody binding to C. jej uni LPS, predominantly to 0:2 and 0:23 LPS. Antibody cross-reactivity between gangliosides GT1a and GQ1b and 0:2 and 0:23 LPS was demonstrat ed by adsorption studies. This cross-reactivity between gangliosides a nd C. jejuni LPS, which is obviously due to oligosaccharide homologies , mag be an important pathogenetic factor in the development of MFS af ter C. jejuni infection.