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Anti-GM1 antibodies: the cause of otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegias?
Lionel Kowal1, Michelle Andrea Gajus, Andrew J Kornberg
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia. strabism@netspace.net.au
Purpose:
To report four patients with otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegia who were found to have elevated levels of anti-GM1 antibodies.
Methods:
Retrospective chart evaluation of 50 consecutive patients with otherwise unexplained ophthalmoparesis. All patients were tested for anti-GM1 antibodies.
Results:
Six out of 50 cases (12%) were found to have elevated anti-GM1 antibodies, far greater than the 2.7% found in the general population. Four of the subjects with elevated anti-GM1 antibodies are reported.
Conclusion:
Although the mechanism and relationship between the neural antibodies and ophthalmoparesis is not understood, it is proposed that the presence of anti-GM1 antibodies should be considered in cases of otherwise unexplained ophthalmoplegia.
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