A 68 year old woman developed oculomotor paresis shortly after metastatic progression of her melanoma was discovered. She was then immunised with the tumour antigen MAGE-3 in combination with an immunological adjuvant. During immunisation her symptoms worsened and she developed severe, predominantly proximal axonal motor neuropathy and became bedridden. IgM antibodies against gangliosides GM2, GD3, and GQ1b were detected in serum obtained two weeks before and nine weeks after the onset of symptoms. Immunohistochemically, the patient's IgM reacted with the tumour and co-localised with GQ1b. She improved neurologically following steroid treatment and became ambulatory.

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hdl.handle.net/1765/8428
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry: an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers in all areas of neurology and neurosurgery
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Kloos, L., Ang, W., Kruit, W., Stoter, G., & Sillevis Smitt, P. (2003). Paraneoplastic ophthalmoplegia and subacute motor axonal neuropathy associated with anti-GQ1b antibodies in a patient with malignant melanoma. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry: an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers in all areas of neurology and neurosurgery. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/8428