CLOSE ASSOCIATION OF IGA ANTIGANGLIOSIDE ANTIBODIES WITH ANTECEDENT CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI INFECTION IN GUILLAIN-BARRE AND FISHERS-SYNDROMES

IgA has an important function in the gastrointestinal immune system. W e investigated IgA anti-ganglioside antibodies in Guillain-Barre syndr ome (GBS) and Fisher's syndrome (FS) subsequent to Campylobacter jejun i enteritis. In previous studies, serological diagnosis of C. jejuni i nfection was based on the detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM anti-C. jejun i antibodies. Our study, however, showed that the detection of IgG ant i-C. jejuni antibody alone was sufficient for the serological diagnosi s of antecedent C. jejuni enteritis in GBS and FS, when the cut-off le vel was defined for results of sera from C. jejuni-isolated patients. Serological evidence of C. jejuni infection was found in 62 (31%) of 2 01 GBS patients and 12 (18%) of 65 FS patients. IgA anti-GM1 antibody was detected in sera from 33 (16%) of the GBS patients, 1 (2%) of the FS patients, and none of the 46 normal control subjects. IgA anti-GM1 antibody titers were significantly higher in the GBS patients with pos itive C. jejuni serology than in those with negative serology (P < 0.0 001) or the FS patient, with positive C. jejuni serology (P = 0.007). IgA anti-GQ1b antibody was detected in sera from 18 (28%) of the FS pa tients, 9 (4%) of the GBS patients, and none of the normal control sub jects. FS patients with positive C. jejuni serology had significantly higher titers of IgA anti-GQ1b antibody than those with negative serol ogy (P = 0.01) or the GBS patients with positive C. jejuni serology (P < 0.0001). We conclude that anti-GM1 and anti-GQ1b IgA antibodies are closely associated with antecedent C. jejuni enteritis in GBS and FS, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.