GM1 antibodies in post-polio syndrome and previous paralytic polio

We studied the relationship between post-polio syndrome (PPS) and GM1 antibodies, since such antibodies have been associated with PPS and motor neuron disorders. Sera from 144 patients with previous poliomyelitis (105 paralytic, 22 nonparalytic and 17 PPS), 60 with previous Guillain-Barré syndrome, 44 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 22 healthy blood donors were analyzed with ELISA for GM1 IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies. GM1 antibodies were present in 14% of the PPS patients, but the prevalence did not differ significantly from that of the other groups. Our study does not support the hypothesis that GM1 antibodies are involved in the pathogenesis of PPS.