Antiganglioside antibodies in serum of patients with chronic sensory ataxic neuropathy

Recent studies have shown that antiganglioside antibodies, particularly those associated with the disialosyl group, may be involved in immune-mediated sensory peripheral neuropathies. We report the results of plasma screening for antiganglioside antibodies in two patients with chronic ataxic neuropathy. We found reactivity against gangliosides GD3, GD1b, and GT1b in one of them and against GD1a in the other, even though both had nearly identical clinical pictures. Results suggest that anti-GD1a antibodies, which are usually associated with motor polyneuropathy, may also be involved in the pathogenesis of clinically pure sensory polyneuropathy (AU)#S#a