Role of the clinical immunology laboratory in disease monitoring

Table 1 A summary of clinically relevant antibodies targeted against glycolipid and glycoprotein-related saccharides

Neuropathy syndrome	Antibody target	Antibody isotype
Chronic Sensory-Motor demyelinating	Myelin-associated glycoprotein Sulfoglucuronylparagloboside	IgM (monoclonal)
Chronic ataxic neuropathy	GD1b, GQ1b	IgM (monoclonal)
Multifocal Motor neuropathy	GM1, GM2, GD1b	IgM (polyclonal or monoclonal)
Sensory neuropathy	Sulfatide	IgM (monoclonal or polyclonal)
Acute motor axonal neuropathy	GM1, GD1a, GalNAc GD1a, GM1b	IgG
Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy	Variable	Variable
Miller-Fisher syndrome	GQ1b ("anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome"), GT1a	IgG
Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis
Acute ophthalmoparesis
Ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome
Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial weakness	GT1a (GQ1b)	IgG
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis	GM1	IgG

Modified from http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/300_399/0340.html (Accessed December 8, 2012). IgM: Immunoglobulin M; IgG: Immunoglobulin G.