Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with IgG monospecific to ganglioside GD1b

The authors examined serum antiglycolipid antibodies in 445 patients with G uillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Among them, nine had anti-GD1b IgG antibodies with no reactivity to other glycolipids tested. All those patients had sen sory disturbance, and none had the primary axonal form. Anti-GD1b IgG antib odies may bind to primary sensory neurons and paranodal myelin, where GD1b is localized, and be involved in the pathogenesis of sensory disturbance an d demyelination. However, more study is needed to substantiate the roles of anti-GD1b IgG antibodies.