M. Koga et al., IS IGG ANTI-GT1A ANTIBODY ASSOCIATED WITH PHARYNGEAL-CERVICAL-BRACHIAL WEAKNESS OR OROPHARYNGEAL PALSY IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME, Journal of neuroimmunology, 86(1), 1998, pp. 74-79
The pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant (PCB) of Guillain-Barre syndr
ome (GBS) has clinical features similar to those of botulism and dipht
heria. Mizoguchi et al. (1994) [Mizoguchi, K., Hase, A., Obi, T., Mats
uoka, PI., Takatsu, M., Nishimura, Y., Irie, F., Seyama, Y., Hirabayas
hi, Y., 1994. Two species of antiganglioside antibodies in a patient w
ith a pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 57, 1121-1123] reported a patient wi
th PCB-like symptoms who had serum IgG anti-GT1a antibodies which did
not cross-react with GQ1b. We assumed that PCB is associated with anti
-GT1a antibodies that do not have reactivity to GQ1b and made a serolo
gical study of a PCB patient. We searched for PCB patients prospective
ly and found one with PCB. This patient had IgG anti-GT1a antibodies w
hich were not absorbed with GQ1b in an absorption study, whereas IgG a
nti-GT1a antibodies from Fisher's syndrome patients were. The frequenc
y of positive IgG anti-GT1a antibody did not differ in patients with a
nd without bulbar palsy. Our findings indicate that IgG anti-GT1a anti
bodies which do not cross-react with GQ1b are specifically detectable
in PCB and can be used as a diagnostic marker of PCB. (C) 1998 Elsevie
r Science B.V. All rights reserved.