Plasma exchange in Guillain-Barré syndrome: effect on anti-peripheral nerve myelin antibodies

Abstract

Increased levels of anti‐peripheral nerve myelin (anti‐PNM) antibodies were demonstrated by ELISA in serum from 4 of 7 patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Treatment with plasma exchange (PE) was performed and 6 of the 7 patients showed clinical improvement with marked increase in muscular strength. One patient, however, continued to deteriorate during the treatment. No correlation between clinical improvement and levels of anti‐PNM antibodies was observed. Whether the antibodies are of pathogenetic importance in GBS is therefore still unknown.