Very early and early neurophysiological abnormalities in Guillain-Barré syndrome: A 4-year retrospective study.
Eur J Neurol
; 28(11): 3768-3773, 2021 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1666304
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
In its initial stages, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is difficult to identify, because diagnostic criteria may not always be fulfilled. With this retrospective study, we wanted to identify the most common electrophysiological abnormalities seen on neurophysiological examination of GBS patients and its variants in the early phases.METHODS:
We reviewed the clinical records of patients admitted to our Neurology Unit with a confirmed diagnosis of GBS. The study sample was divided in two subgroups according to whether the neurophysiological examination was performed within 7 days (very early group) or within 7-15 days (early group). H reflex, F waves, and motor and sensory conduction parameters were judged abnormal if they were outside the normal range for at least two nerves. We evaluated neurophysiological findings in Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) separately.RESULTS:
The study sample comprised 36 patients. In GBS, the most frequent abnormal neurophysiological parameter was the bilateral absence of the H reflex, followed by F wave abnormalities. Motor conduction parameters were altered in less than 50% of patients, and even less common were sensory nerve action potential reduction and the "sural-sparing" pattern. In MFS, H reflex was absent bilaterally in 100% of patients, followed by a predominant peripheral sensory involvement, whereas motor conduction parameters were frequently normal.CONCLUSIONS:
Bilateral absence of the H reflex is the most sensitive parameter in early diagnosis of GBS and its variants.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Miller Fisher Syndrome
/
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Neurol
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ene.15011
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