Autoantibodies to GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a: Relationship to Campylobacter jejuni infection and acute motor axonal neuropathy in China

IgG antibodies to the minor gangliosides GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a frequently are present in sera of Japanese patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The relationship between these autoantibodies and Campylobacter jejuni infection, the type of disease (acute motor axonal neuropathy [AMAN], or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy [AIDP]) has yet to be established. Sera samples were obtained from 55 Chinese patients with clinically defined Guillain-Barre syndrome. An electrophysiology study showed nine AIDP, 28 had AMAN, and 18 unclassified. C. jejuni serology was positively correlated with anti-GM1b and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG antibodies (respective P values, 0.007 and 0.02). The frequencies of positive anti-GM1b and anti-GalNAc-GD1a serology were greater in AMAN (32 and 21%) than in AIDP (11 and 0%), but the differences were not significant. Infection by C. jejuni may induce IgG anti- GM1b antibody in some patients and IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody in others. A larger population of patients must be studied to show whether there is a definite correlation.