Elevated anti-sulfatide antibodies in Guillain–Barre´ syndrome in T cell depleted at end-stage AIDS

Abstract A 38-year-old man developed the Guillain–Barre´ syndrome (GBS) associated with untreated end-stage AIDS and CD4+ lymphocyte count of 3 cells/mm3 . The patient had serum high titer anti-sulfatide antibodies and responded well to infusion of immunoglobulin. The data suggest that elevated levels of anti-sulfatide antibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of GBS in this patient, although a direct neurotropic effect of HIV virus cannot be excluded.