SOLUBLE COMPLEMENT RECEPTOR-TYPE-1 IN SERUM AND CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME AND MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

Activation of complement is critically involved in inflammatory reacti ons in both Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Soluble human complement receptor 1 (sCR1) blocks complement activati on by both classical and alternative pathways. We studied serum and ce rebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of sCR1 in 23 patients with GBS , 27 patients with MS and 30 controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls. Transient liver affection probab ly caused high serum sCR1 levels in two patients with GBS. The serum a nd CSF sCR1 levels were not correlated to the disease activity of GBS and MS, nor to the relapsing-remitting or chronic-progressive forms of MS. In GBS the CSF sCR1 levels correlated with the CSF total protein concentrations (r = 0.9, P < 0.01), suggesting that sCR1 leaks from se rum into CSF via a damaged blood-nerve barrier. The serum sCR1 levels in GBS were slightly higher than in MS (P < 0.05). Whether this reflec ts changes in the release or consumption of sCR1 in these patients is at present unknown.