Clinical features and pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome after Haemophilus influenzae infection

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08464
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: KOGA Michiaki 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (60383014)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: インフルエンザ桿菌 / ギラン・バレー症候群 / フィッシャー症候群 / 分子相同性 / ガングリオシド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fisher syndrome (FS) is a regional variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which molecular mimicry between antecedent infectious agents and host tissue is a highly attractive explanation for the pathogenesis. Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as the agent that most frequently triggers FS and Haemophilus influenzae is as the second antecedent agent. The clinical, serological and cerebrospinal fluid data of patients with H. influenzae-associated FS were analyzed and compared to these of patients with C. jejuni-associated FS. Although there were some differences of clinical profiles between patients with H. influenzae- and C. jejuni-associated FS, autoantibody patterns (antigen specificities and IgG subclasses) and findings of cerebrospinal fluid were similar to the both groups. Concentration of serum membrane-attack complex did not differ between the groups. These findings suggest the common pathogenesis of H. influenzae-associated FS with C. jejuni-associated FS.

Free Research Field

神経免疫学