Cellular hypersensitivity in Guillain Barre syndrome

The Guillain Barre syndrome is hypothesized to be secondary to cellular hypersensitivity to peripheral nerve antigen. To test this theory lymphocytes from 100 subjects were studied using the macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) assay. Thirty four normal controls gave a mean migration of 100.4±9%. Of 34 patients with peripheral nervous system disease, only those with the Guillain Barre syndrome showed hypersensitivity with a mean migration of 72±11%. Of 34 patients with central nervous system disease only 3 with multiple sclerosis and 2 with stroke gave similar results. Positive results in the Guillain Barre syndrome were found only in patients presenting with classical disease and who were ill at the time of study.