Antibodies to LM1 and LM1-containing ganglioside complexes in Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

LM1 is localized in human peripheral nerve myelin. Antibodies to ganglioside complexes (GSCs) have been reported in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). We investigated IgG antibodies to LM1 and two GSCs (GM1 and LMI, or GD1b and LM1) in the sera of each 40 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and GBS, using ELISA. We detected anti-LM1 antibody in five with GBS and seven with CIDP; anti-GM1/LM1 antibody in three with GBS and one with CIDP; and anti-GD1b/LM1 antibody in two with CIDP. Antibodies to LM1 and LM1-containing GSCs may be among the targets for autoimmunity in GBS and CIDP.