GM1 ANTIBODY IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME AFTER CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI INFECTION

Fecal culture of Campylobacter jejuni was prepared by the method of Sk irrow, and serum class specific antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) to Campy lobacter jejuni and serum class specific antibodies (IgG IgM) to GM1 w ere prepared with solid phase enzyme linked immunasorbent assay in 16 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), 32 controls with other neurolo gical diseases (disease controls) and 90 normal controls. The results showed that the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection, especiall y recent infections, in the group with Guillain-Barre syndrome was muc h higher than that in the two control groups, and that the positive ra te of GM1 antibody was also much higher in the GBS group than in the t wo control groups. The results suggest that Campylobacter jejuni infec tion may be one of the important precipitating factors of Guillain-Bar re syndrome and play an important role in the epidemiological pattern of Guillain-Barre syndrome in China. It damages the myelin of peripher al nerves through induction of GM1 antibody production.