Clinical Profile, Electrodiagnostic Variations, Treatment and Outcome in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Prospective Study of 78 Patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acutepolyradiculoneuropathy with varied severity of presentation.Objectives: To study clinical presentation, electrodiagnosticvariations, hospital care and outcome of patients of GuillainBarre Syndrome (GBS). Current research aimed to studyefficacy of Plasmapharesis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin(IVIG) in patients of GBS.Material and Methods: 78 patients of GBS were studiedin detail including history, clinical examination andinvestigations. Patients were treated with Plasmapharesis andIVIG; and outcome was observed.Results: Commonest age group affected was 13-40 yrs.The malefemale ratio was 1.21. Antecedent infection werepresent in 42 out of 78 patients. Quadriparesis was presentin 74 patients and paraparesis in four patients. Cranial nerveinvolvement was seen in 47 out of 78 patients. Areflexia wasfound in all 78 patients. Albuminocytologic dissociation waspresent in 44 out of 61 patients underwent CSF examination.NCV findings show conduction velocity slowing, delayedf latencies in 92% patients. Out of 72 patients, 33[43%]required mechanical ventilation. Out of 78 patients, 71 weretreated with Plasmapharesis and seven patients were treatedwith IVIG. Out of 78 patients 56 [72%] patients recoveredcompletely, 19 [24%] patients died and three [four%] patientsdeveloped severe neurologic deficit.Conclusion: GBS is more common in male as compare tofemale. Commonest presentation is paresthesia in legs andascending paralysis. Patients who received treatment early inthe course of disease had faster recovery. Plasmapheresis andIVIG both showed similar efficacy in treating GBS.