Increased circulating antiganglioside antibodies in primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Plasma samples from 70 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 41 patients w ith other neurological diseases (OND), and 38 healthy subjects were examine d for antibodies against gangliosides GM1, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, and GD3 using e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The percentages of subjects with increas ed anti-GMS responses were significantly higher in the primary progressive MS (56.3%) and secondary progressive MS (42.9%) groups than in the relapsin g-remitting MS (2.9%), healthy subject (2.6%), and OND (14.6%) groups. Elev ated antiganglioside antibodies may be secondary to axonal damage or may be a cause of axonal damage and accumulating disability in progressive MS. In either case, they may serve as a marker of axonal damage in MS.