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Ambiguous value of Haemophilus influenzae isolation in Guillain-Barré and Fisher syndromes
  1. M Koga1,
  2. S Koike2,
  3. K Hirata1,
  4. N Yuki1
  1. 1Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
  2. 2Institute for Medical Science, Dokkyo University School of Medicine
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Michiaki Koga
 Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan; kogamrkdokkyomed.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.

  • GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • LOS, lipo-oligosaccharide
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Fisher syndrome
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • ganglioside

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared.