Ganglioside Antibody Profile, IgG in Domlur, Bangalore

Patients suffering from neuropathy have difficulty dealing with sensory disturbances, weakness, and autonomic involvement. One of the most complex groups of glycosphingolipids is the ganglioside antibodies. These antibodies have oligosaccharide head groups with one or multiple involvements of sialic acid.

These ganglioside antibodies account for 5%-8% of the total lipids in your brain. More than twenty different types of ganglioside antibodies have been identified that differ in the number of sialic acid residues and the relative position of the hexose.

Ganglioside antibodies are highly contained in the ganglion cells of the central nervous system and are mainly present in the surface membranes of the cells of most extraneural tissues. Ganglioside antibodies have been involved in several biological processes in the nervous system. These processes include cell recognition, regulation of receptor function, cell adhesion, growth modulation, and signal transduction.

GM1 ganglioside antibodies are related primarily to disorders that affect motor nerves. Some particular carbohydrates recognised by ganglioside antibodies are involved in various infectious organisms such as campylobacter. These can trigger some diseases.

This inherited disorder progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is classified into three types based on its severity and feature.

The symptoms of one of the most severe types of GM1 gangliosidosis usually occur when a child is six months old. Infants may experience symptoms like:

• Slow muscles development
• Weakened movements
• Startled reaction to loud noises

When the type I ganglioside antibodies make progress in the body, children are more likely to develop the following symptoms:

• Skeletal abnormalities
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Loss of vision
• Seizures
• Profound intellectual disability
• Distinctive facial features

Under the type II ganglioside antibodies, most children develop symptoms from around eighteen months of age till five years. These children may not develop enlarged organs, but their life expectancy remains short. They usually survive into middle childhood.

Type III ganglioside antibodies are also known as the chronic form or adult form. Most affected patients develop symptoms in their teens. They usually experience muscle dystonia and abnormalities of the spinal bones. Life expectancy among patients of type III can vary.

The Ganglioside profile test detects IgM antibodies formed against the ganglioside monosialic acid (GM1). At Apollo 24|7, you can get yourself tested with the help of a ganglioside profile test. If the test detects a higher level of ganglioside antibodies, it can lead to motor or sensorimotor neuropathies, especially multifocal motor neuropathy. The ganglioside antibodies are found in patients suffering from diverse connective tissue diseases. The antibodies can also affect normal people. Your doctor will order this test for you along with other clinical parameters to confirm the presence of the disease.