RESUMO
Introduction: The history of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) runs parallel with the discovery of the peripheral nervous system. Upto the second half of the 19th century, injury to the peripheral nervous system had not yet emerged as a possible cause of palsy.Aim: This study aims to study the treatment and outcome in patients with various subtypes of GBS.Materials and Methods: Patients who had been admitted with the diagnosis of GBS based on Asbury’s criteria which includedascending areflexic quadriparesis, with or without cranial nerve dysfunction, and evolving within a period of 4 weeks. We alsoincluded patients who presented with features of GBS subtypes without prominent weakness. A detailed history and physicalexamination as per a structured pro forma were taken and necessary laboratory investigations were done.Results: Twenty-five patients were admitted with disability grade of >3 in GBS disability scale (>5 in Medical Research Councildisability scale) and 18 were admitted below the score. Sixteen patients needed ventilator support and 10 patients expired.Among the 22 patients who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIg), 14 patients (24.6%) had a good outcome and8 patients (14.0%) had a poor outcome. Among the nine patients who were treated with plasma exchange, six patients had agood outcome and three had a poor outcome. Among the 19 patients, who were treated with injection methylprednisolone, eightpatients had a good outcome and 11 patients had a poor outcome. The values obtained are not statistically significant (P = 0.076).Conclusion: The mean improvement in GBS disability scale from admission to the end of the 8th week is more for IvIg-treatedpatients when compared to methylprednisolone-treated group.