🛡️ Autoimmune Disorders Impacting Peripheral Nerves
Autoimmune conditions can target myelin, axon, nodes of Ranvier, or neuromuscular pathways, producing motor and sensory neuropathies.
1️⃣ Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
🧪 Antibodies: Anti-ganglioside (GM1, GD1a)
⚡ Effects:
- Rapid ascending motor weakness
- Sensory symptoms (numbness, paresthesia)
- Facial weakness
- Areflexia (absent reflexes)
2️⃣ Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
🧪 Antibodies: Anti-neurofascin, anti-contactin, anti-Caspr
⚡ Effects:
- Progressive motor weakness (weeks–months)
- Sensory loss
- Facial weakness (variable)
- Reduced reflexes
3️⃣ Paraneoplastic Neuropathy
🧪 Antibodies: Anti-Hu, anti-Yo, anti-CV2
⚡ Effects:
- Rapid, severe motor weakness
- Sensory deficits
- Bulbar symptoms (dysphagia, dysarthria)
- Areflexia
4️⃣ Anti-MAG Neuropathy
🧪 Antibodies: Anti-MAG (myelin-associated glycoprotein)
⚡ Effects:
- Slowly progressive distal motor weakness
- Distal sensory loss (especially vibration)
- Reduced reflexes
- Often associated with IgM paraproteinemia
5️⃣ Autoimmune Nodopathies
(Targeting paranodal proteins → severe conduction block)
🧪 Antibodies:
- Anti-Neurofascin (NF155, NF186)
- Anti-Caspr1
- Anti-Contactin-1
⚡ Effects:
- Progressive motor weakness
- Sensory changes
- Facial weakness (mild)
- Areflexia
