M. Koga et al., CLOSE ASSOCIATION OF IGA ANTIGANGLIOSIDE ANTIBODIES WITH ANTECEDENT CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI INFECTION IN GUILLAIN-BARRE AND FISHERS-SYNDROMES, Journal of neuroimmunology, 81(1-2), 1998, pp. 138-143
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.