A Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) research team has published a review article that comprehensively outlines a clinical syndrome characterized by dizziness, double vision, and visual impairment caused by autoimmune dysfunction in the journal JAMA Neurology.
A SNUBH research team, led by Professor Kim Ji-Soo, established the characteristic syndromes associated with anti-GQ1b ganglioside antibodies. (Credit: SNUBH)
It is the first time a Korean research team has independently published a review article in JAMA Neurology. The research team, led by Professor Kim Ji-Soo from the Department of Neurology, established the characteristic syndromes associated with anti-GQ1b ganglioside antibodies, which they have uncovered over the past decade, as the "anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome."
Gangliosides are proteins distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the cranial nerves, and are involved in the cell-to-cell interactions, differentiation, and growth regulation. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells, tissues, or organs. When antibodies against the gangliosides are produced due to such autoimmune abnormalities, it is known to cause peripheral nerve paralysis disorders, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and Miller-Fisher syndrome.
The research team focused on the diseases related to GQ1b gangliosides, a type of ganglioside. When autoantibodies targeting the GQ1b gangliosides (anti-GQ1b antibodies) are produced, these antibodies can cause nerve damage, leading to symptoms and signs such as diplopia, loss of motor function, and decreased knee reflexes. The team revealed that, in addition to these typical symptoms and signs, patients may experience dizziness, balance disorders, visual impairments, and limb weakness. The SNUBH team also reported that contrary to the common belief that anti-GQ1b antibodies primarily affect the peripheral nervous system, these antibodies can also invade the central nervous system, causing eye movement disorders such as internuclear ophthalmoplegia and supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.
The team stressed that the publication of this paper is significant as it highlights the recognition of the research capabilities of Korean neuro-ophthalmology researchers on a global scale and expects that its findings will greatly contribute to understanding and treating anti-GQ1b antibody syndromes in the future. "Neurological disorders that cause double vision, dizziness, and visual impairments significantly impact patients, yet their underlying causes often remain unknown, making early diagnosis challenging," Kim said. "We will continue our research with the goal of applying these findings to treatment."
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