Características epidemiológicas del síndrome de Guillain-Barré en población chilena: estudio hospitalario en un período de 7 años / Clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in 41 patients admitted to a public hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the commonest cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide, with an incidence of 0.6-4 per 100.000 inhabitants per year. It affects all age groups and carries an incapacity burden of up to 20%. Aim: To describe the features of GBS in adult Chilean patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of 41 patients aged 17 to 81 years (30 males) admitted to a public hospital with the diagnosis of GBS between 2003 and 2009. According to clinical and electrophysiological criteria, the patients were classified into different varieties of GBS. Results: The incidence of GBS was higher in males (2.71) and the demyelinated GBS variety was found in 66% of cases. According to the Hughes’ disability score, patients treated with plasmapheresis, showed non-statistically significant better outcomes than those treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. Conclusions: In this group of patients the demyelinated variety of GBS was more common than the axonal type. Although not statistically significant, the better response to plasmapheresis is encouraging and should prompt a controlled study.