ASSOCIATION OF IGG ANTI-GD1A ANTIBODY WITH SEVERE GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

We earlier reported cases of 2 patients with severe acute Guillain-Bar re syndrome (GBS) associated with high-IgG anti-GD1a antibody titer. W e now have investigated the autoantibody against GD1a or GM, in 37 GBS patients using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and have found a statistically significant association between IgG anti-GD1a antibody and the severity of the disease (need of a respirator for more than 1 month and a poor functional prognosis 3 months after neurologic onset) . An autopsy which showed severe GBS associated with IgG anti-GD1a ant ibody produced the following findings: (1) severe axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination of peripheral nerves; (2) lymphocytic infi ltration; and (3) marked central chromatolysis of the lower motoneuron s.