HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koga, M Articles by Yuki, N Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koga, M Articles by Yuki, N

Ambiguous value of Haemophilus influenzae isolation in Guillain-Barré and Fisher syndromes

¹ Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
² Institute for Medical Science, Dokkyo University School of Medicine

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Michiaki Koga
Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan; kogamrk{at}dokkyomed.ac.jp

ABSTRACT
Background: Haemophilus influenzae is considered a causative agent of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Fisher syndrome, but the frequency of this infection in GBS is controversial.

Objective: To determine whether isolation of H influenzae indicates it is a causative agent in GBS and Fisher syndrome.

Results: Four (15%) of 27 patients with GBS and Fisher syndrome in whom H influenzae was isolated were also seropositive for Campylobacter jejuni. Antiganglioside IgG antibodies in these four patients did not cross react with their H influenzae lipo-oligosaccharides, whereas antiganglioside antibodies in the four patients with positive serology for H influenzae did.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that H influenzae isolation is not always indicative of the causative agent in these syndromes and that tests for other infections should be made, even in cases of positive culture.

Abbreviations: GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; LOS, lipo-oligosaccharide

Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome; Fisher syndrome; Haemophilus influenzae; ganglioside