Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with IgG monospecific to ganglioside GD1b.

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