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  • Title: Anti-sulfatide IgM antibodies in peripheral neuropathy: to test or not to test?
    Author: Giannotta C, Di Pietro D, Gallia F, Nobile-Orazio E.
    Journal: Eur J Neurol; 2015 May; 22(5):879-82. PubMed ID: 25597226.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Anti-sulfatide immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies have been associated with different forms of neuropathies but their diagnostic role in neuropathy remains unclear. METHODS: The clinical association of increased titers of anti-sulfatide IgM antibodies in 570 patients with neuropathy and related disorders examined in our laboratory since 2004 was reviewed. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the initial serum dilution of 1:32,000 and titrated by serial two-fold dilution. In all positive patients IgM antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) were also measured by western blot. RESULTS: High titers of anti-sulfatide antibodies were found in 39 patients including 33 (85%) who also had anti-MAG IgM. Six patients did not have anti-MAG IgM including five in whom moderately increased anti-sulfatide titers were associated with different forms of neuropathy. One patient with a demyelinating neuropathy and IgM monoclonal gammopathy had markedly increased anti-sulfatide titers (1:256,000). CONCLUSIONS: Increased titers of anti-sulfatide IgM antibodies are not infrequent in patients with neuropathy where they are often associated with a concomitant reactivity to MAG. A selective reactivity to sulfatide, however, is rarely found and is associated with different forms of neuropathy limiting its usefulness in the diagnosis of neuropathy.
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