ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the clinical characteristics in elderly patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome ( GBS) and explore the relationship between glucose metabolism and severity and prognosis of disease. Methods Records of patients with GBS admitted between January 2004 and February 2017 from Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University were evaluated, including antecedent infection, initial symp-toms, cranial nerve palsy, subgroup analysis, Hughes score and Medical Research Council ( MRC) score at nadir and when discharged. Results The incidence of ocular palsy (6. 4％ vs 27. 0％, P=0. 02) and of facial palsy (18. 8％ vs 45. 8％, P =0. 016 ) were both lower in older group, compared to non-elderly group. MRC score at nadir (32 vs 44, P=0. 020), rate of severe type (80. 6％ vs 47. 9％, P=0. 004) and rate of poor prognosis when discharged (67. 7％ vs 29. 2％,P=0. 001) in elderly group were higher than non-elderly group. As to the distribution of subtype in these two groups, no significant difference was found (P=0. 691). Hyperglycemia wasn't prognostic factor of severe type (OR =0. 531,P =0. 321) or poor short-term prognosis (OR=0. 519,P=0. 261). Conclusions The clinical characteristics of elderly patients with GBS are distinct from non-elderly patients. Hyperglycemia wasn 't predictor of severe type or poor short-term prognosis of GBS.