Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Brief Clinical Note

Twenty-year follow-up study of antiglycolipid antibodies and electrophysiological findings in a 36-year-old patient with an axonal variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Naohiro Sakamoto, M.D.1), Masato Kadoya, M.D.1), Akiko Kadoya, M.D.1), Keiko Kamakura, M.D., Ph.D.1), Katsunori Ikewaki, M.D., Ph.D.1) and Kenichi Kaida, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Anti-aging and Vascular medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College

We describe a twenty-year follow-up study of antiglycolipid antibodies and electrophysiological results in a 36-yearold man with Campylobacter jejuni-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The patient had a high titer of IgG antibodies to GM1 and GA1 20 years ago. Plasma exchange resulted in full recovery from a bedridden status to independent walking in three weeks, except for residual mild weakness of the bilateral extensor hallucis longus muscles and atrophy of the plantar muscles. Twenty years later, he is unable to run at full pace due to neurological sequelae, and IgG antibodies to GM1 and GA1 were still slightly positive. This case suggests that marked improvement in the acute phase does not necessarily guarantee a subsequent good quality of life (QOL). Optional treatment such as complement inhibitors in the acute phase may be required to achieve better QOL in subsets of patients with GBS.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (367K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 58: 509|512, 2018)
key words: Guillain-Barré syndrome, long-term prognosis, antiglycolipid antibody, axonal type, quality of life

(Received: 29-Jan-18)