AFFINITY OF ANTI-GM1 ANTIBODIES IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME PATIENTS

In this study, we investigated the affinity of anti-GM1 IgG antibodies as well as their IgG subclass distribution in a series of 38 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome. In 7 sera elevated titres of IgG anti-G M1 antibodies could be detected. With respect to affinity there were t wo distinct groups of anti-GM1 antibodies: one group was of high affin ity and did not cross-react with other glycolipids; the other group wa s of low affinity and cross-reacted with asialo-GM1. IgG1 was the pred ominant and almost exclusive subclass of high affinity anti-GM1 antibo dies. Axonal degeneration occurred significantly more frequently in pa tients with high affinity anti-GM1 antibodies than in patients without anti-GM1 antibodies or in patients with low affinity anti-GM1 antibod ies. The presence of anti-Campylobacter jejuni antibodies was not asso ciated with a specific electrophysiological pattern. The prognosis was not dependent on the detection of any of the antibodies, whereas axon al loss and ventilation were associated with a poor prognosis.