Neuromuscular transmission is not impaired in axonal Guillain–Barré syndrome
S Kuwabara, N Kokubun, S Misawa, K Kanai… - Journal of Neurology …, 2011 - jnnp.bmj.com
S Kuwabara, N Kokubun, S Misawa, K Kanai, S Isose, K Shibuya, Y Noto, M Mori…
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2011•jnnp.bmj.comBackground 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 …
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 …
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.
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