Neuromuscular transmission is not impaired in axonal Guillain--Barré syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have shown that anti-GQ1b antibodies induce massive neuromuscular blocking. If anti-GM1 and -GD1a antibodies have similar effects on the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in human limb muscles, this may explain selective motor involvement in axonal Guillain--Barré syndrome (GBS).

METHODS:

Axonal-stimulating single-fibre electromyography was performed in the extensor digitorum communis muscle of 23 patients with GBS, including 13 with the axonal form whose sera had a high titre of serum IgG anti-GM1 or -GD1a antibodies.

RESULTS:

All patients with axonal or demyelinating GBS showed normal or near-normal jitter, and no blocking.

CONCLUSION:

In both axonal and demyelinating GBS, neuromuscular transmission is not impaired. Our results failed to support the hypothesis that anti-GM1 or -GD1a antibody affects the NMJ. In GBS, impulse transmission is presumably impaired in the motor nerve terminal axons proximal to the NMJ.

• Authors: Satoshi Kuwabara, N Kokubun, S Misawa, K Kanai, S Isose, K Shibuya, Y Noto, M Mori, Y Sekiguchi, S Nasu, Y Fujimaki, K Hirata, N Yuki
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) Vol. 82 Issue 10 Pg. 1174-7 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1468-330X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21071752 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Immunoglobulin G
• ganglioside GD1alpha
• G(M1) Ganglioside

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Axons (physiology)
• Electromyography
• Female
• G(M1) Ganglioside (analogs & derivatives, immunology)
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Skeletal (innervation)
• Neuromuscular Junction (physiopathology)
• Synaptic Transmission (physiology)
• Young Adult