Objectives: The aim of this study was to correlate the brain atrophy with serum levels of anti-GM1 antibodies in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Methods: Plasma sample from 52 patients with RRMS and 65 healthy controls were examined for anti-GM1 antibodies. Patients with RRMS underwent to MRI study with automated method called SIENAX that calculated an estimate of gray matter (GM(V)) and white matter (WM(V)) volumes.
Results: The percentage of RRMS patients with increased anti-GM1 was 37.8%. Elevated levels of anti-GM1 antibodies did not correlate with brain atrophy.
Conclusions: Anti-GM1 antibodies do not represent a marker of axonal damage in patients with RRMS.