Antiganglioside antibodies in Guillain–Barré syndrome and its related conditions

Abstract

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is typically classified into two major subtypes: acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy and acute motor axonal neuropathy. Its most recognizable variant is Fisher syndrome. The last two decades have seen considerable advances in our understanding of GBS. Of note, various autoantibodies against ganglioside antigens have been identified and found to have significant associations with the axonal forms of GBS and Fisher syndrome. In this article, we discuss the different clinical presentations in GBS and the role of antiganglioside antibodies in their underlying pathogenesis. We also discuss the impact that antiganglioside antibodies have had in the development of experimental models and treatment modalities in GBS.

Keywords::

• antiganglioside antibodies
• Fisher syndrome
• Guillain–Barré syndrome

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Nortina Shahrizaila receives support from the University of Malaya research grant. Nobuhiro Yuki receives support from the National Medical Research Council (10nov086), Ministry of Health, Singapore. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.