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Acute motor neuropathy with antibodies to GM1 ganglioside

Journal of Neurology volume 238, pages 447–451 (1991)Cite this article

Summary

We describe a 52-year-old man who had an acute-onset purely motor neuropathy fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for the Guillain-Barré syndrome, in whom virtually complete spontaneous recovery occurred by 1 year, and in whom high titres of polyclonal serum antibody to GM1, GD1b, asialo-GM1 and lacto-N-tetraose were detected. The titre of IgM antibody to GM1 fell during the course of the disease with a concomitant rise in the IgG titre. This case adds to the widening spectrum of disease associated with anti-GM1 antibodies and provides further evidence for a relationship between anti-GM1 antibodies and motor system disease.

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Author notes

  1. H. J. Willison

    Present address: Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Science, Southern General Hospital, G51 4TF, Glasgow, UK

Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, United Medical and Dental Schools, London, UK

    N. A. Gregson & D. Jones

  2. Department of Neurological Science, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK

    P. K. Thomas & H. J. Willison

Authors
  1. N. A. Gregson
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  2. D. Jones
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  3. P. K. Thomas
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  4. H. J. Willison
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Gregson, N.A., Jones, D., Thomas, P.K. et al. Acute motor neuropathy with antibodies to GM1 ganglioside. J Neurol 238, 447–451 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314652

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314652

Key words

  • GM1 ganglioside
  • Glycosphingolipids
  • Autoantibody
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome