Interpretation

Ganglioside antibodies are associated with diverse peripheral neuropathies. Elevated antibody levels to ganglioside-monosialic acid (GM1) and the neutral glycolipid, asialo-GM1 are associated with motor or sensorimotor neuropathies, particularly multifocal motor neuropathy. Anti-GM1 may occur as IgM (polyclonal or monoclonal) or IgG antibodies. These antibodies may also be found in patients with diverse connective tissue diseases as well as normal individuals. GD1a antibodies are associated with different variants of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), particularly acute motor axonal neuropathy, while GD1b antibodies are predominantly found in sensory ataxic neuropathy syndrome. Anti-GQ1b antibodies are seen in more than 80 percent of patients with Miller-Fisher syndrome and may be elevated in GBS patients with ophthalmoplegia. The role of isolated anti-GM2 antibodies is unknown. These tests by themselves are not diagnostic and should be used in conjunction with other clinical parameters to confirm disease.