Cluster of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with HLA DQB1*05:01 and the Occurrence of Anti-Ganglioside and Sulfatide Antibodies (P3.143)

Objective: Few regional and seasonal Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) clusters have been reported so far. Background: It is unknown whether patients suffering from sporadic GBS differ from GBS clusters with respect to clinical and paraclinical parameters, HLA association and antibody response to glycosphingolipids and Campylobacter jejuni (Cj). Methods: We examined 40 GBS patients with 14 of those admitted to our department within a period of three months in fall 2010 defining a cluster of GBS. We compared clinical severity, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and electrophysiological parameters with molecular typing of HLA class II alleles (DRB1, DPB1, DQB1), seropositivity for Cj and autoantibody responses against glycosphingolipids between GBS patients recruited during the cluster period and sporadic GBS cases. Results: The frequency of autoantibodies against sulfatide and gangliosides was increased in the cluster cohort (54[percnt]) as compared to sporadic GBS cases (13[percnt]). Cj seropositivity tended to be higher within GBS cluster patients (69[percnt]) as compared to sporadic cases (46[percnt]). We noted higher frequencies of the HLA class II allele DQB1*05:01 in the cluster cohort (23[percnt]) as compared to sporadic GBS patients (3[percnt]). Conclusions: A local and seasonal cluster of GBS was defined by a higher frequency of autoantibodies against sulfatide and ganglioside epitopes. The HLA class II allele DQB1*05:01 might contribute to the clinical severity in the cluster GBS patients. Disclosure: Dr. Schirmer holds patent payments for the detection of antibodies against KIR4.1 in a subpopulation of MS patients. Dr. Worthington has nothing to disclose. Dr. Solloch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Loleit has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grummel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lakdawala has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grant has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wassmuth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schmidt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gebhardt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Andlauer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sauter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Berthele has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lunn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hemmer has received personal compensation for activities with Roche, Novartis, Bayer Schering, Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, GSK, Chugai, Micromet and Genzyme Corporation as a scientific advisory board member.