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

Authors :
Kuwabara S
Kokubun N
Misawa S
Kanai K
Isose S
Shibuya K
Noto Y
Mori M
Sekiguchi Y
Nasu S
Fujimaki Y
Hirata K
Yuki N
Source :
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry [J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry] 2011 Oct; Vol. 82 (10), pp. 1174-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Nov 11.
Publication Year :
2011

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).<br />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.<br />Results: All patients with axonal or demyelinating GBS showed normal or near-normal jitter, and no blocking.<br />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.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1468-330X
Volume :
82
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
21071752
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2010.210708