| Category: |
Neuroimmunology |
|---|---|
| Test Code: | 505 |
| Disease: | Paraneoplastic Syndromes |
| Methodology: | Indirect Immunofluorescence, ELISA, Western Blot confirmation if appropriate |
| Reference Range: | See reference range for individual tests. |
| CPT Code: | CPT Code: 83520 (x8), 86255 (x3). |
| Schedule / Turnaround Time: | See individual tests for scheduling and turnaround time. |
| Specimen Requirements: |
Specimen need not be refrigerated or frozen. Collect 2-3 ml of blood in a red top or serum separator tube. If possible, separate serum from clot and place into white tube provided with Immco Diagnostics’ collection kits. If separation facilities are not available, the blood can be sent in the tube used for collection. |
| Sample Stability: |
Sample is stable at ambient temperature during shipment. If sample is stored prior to shipment, it is stable refrigerated (2-8˚C) up to five days and frozen (-20˚C or lower) up to one year. |
| Relevance: |
Antibodies against glycolipids (GM1, GD1b, GQ1b, Asialo GM1 and sulphatide) are present in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), IgM paraproteinemic neuropathy and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Antibodies to one or more glycolipids are present in 60-70% of patients with GBS. GBS is a typical post-infectious autoimmune disorder. Increased IgM antibodies against GM1, GD1a, GD1b and asialo GM1 are found to co-exist in several types of motor neuropathies. Among these, GM1 are preferentially associated with multi-focal motor neuropathies and are never observed in low motor neuron diseases. This observation distinguishes them from antiGD1b and asialo GM1 which are preferentially observed in cases with low motor neuropathies. |