Preceding infections and anti-ganglioside antibodies in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome: a single centre prospective case-control study

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007 Mar;13(3):334-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01636.x.

Abstract

Preceding infections and anti-ganglioside antibodies were assessed among 80 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients and 125 controls. Previous infections were more frequent among GBS patients than among controls (p <0.0001), and had a significant association with axonal subtype compared with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) (29/46 vs. 10/34 patients; p <0.05). Campylobacter jejuni (26%) was the most common preceding infection among GBS patients, followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (15%). Anti-ganglioside antibodies were detected more frequently among GBS patients than among controls (65/80 vs. 13/125; p <0.001), and a higher proportion of axonal cases had these antibodies than did AIDP patients (43/46 vs. 22/34; p <0.01).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Axons / pathology
  • Bacterial Infections / complications*
  • Campylobacter Infections / complications
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Gangliosides / immunology*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / etiology*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / complications
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Gangliosides
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M