The sera from GM1 ganglioside antibody positive patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy blocks Na+ currents in rat single myelinated nerve fibers

Objective To determine the possible role of anti-GM1 ganglioside antisera from patients with Gullain-Barre syndrome (GBS) or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in the development of nerve dysfunction. Methods The effect of the anti-GM1 antibody positive antisera obtained from 4 GBS patients and 1 CIDP patient on membrane potential and ionic currents in rat single myelinated nerve fibers was investigated using the voltage clamp technique and compared with that of the anti-GM1 negative antisera obtained from 3 healthy controls and 2 GBS patients. Results In the presence of active complement, anti-GM1 positive antisera from 5 patients including 4 GBS patients and 1 CIDP patient significantly suppressed Na+ current more than anti-GM1 negative antisera. Conclusion This study supports the notion that anti-GM1 antibody is one of the causative factors of conduction abnormality in GBS patients.