Neuromuscular transmission is not impaired in axonal Guillain–Barré syndrome. Issue 10 (11th November 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• 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
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 82:Issue 10(2011)
• Page Start: 1174
• Page End: 1177
• Publication Date: 2010-11-11
• Subjects: Anti-GM1 antibody -- anti-GD1a antibody -- Guillain–Barré syndrome -- acute motor axonal neuropathy -- neuromuscular transmission -- single-fibre electromyography -- EMG -- neuromuscular -- neuropathy -- neurophysiol -- clinical; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2010.210708
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

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.