Antiganglioside antibodies in acute self-limiting ataxic neuropathy: incidence and significance

Antidisialosyl antibodies have been previously associated to chronic and ac ute ataxic neuropathies. We studied the presence of these antibodies in nin e patients with acute self-limiting ataxic neuropathy (ASLAN) using ELISA a nd TLC immunodetection, One patient showed ser-um IgG immunoreactivity agai nst gangliosides GD3 and GQlb. The patient's IgG was able to bind to the no des of Ranvier on frozen human dorsal root. Our studies confirmed that anti disialosyl reactivity is associated to ataxic neuropathy and its specific b inding to the dorsal root could explain the predominant sensory involvement . Nevertheless, the low incidence of this reactivity indicates that a diffe rent pathogenic mechanism should be involved in most ASLAN patients. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved,