Patterns of Guillain-Barre syndrome in children: results from a Mexican population.

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated flaccid paralysis frequently associated with Campylobacter infection. Of two predominant GBS subtypes, a demyelinating subtype (acute inflammatory demyelinative polyneuropathy [AIDP]) predominates in the United States and Europe, and axonal subtype (acute motor axonal neuropathy [AMAN]) is the predominant form in China. Previous clinical studies suggested that AMAN also occurs in Mexican children. The purpose of this study was to describe the subtypes of GBS in children from Mexico City. METHODS: We prospectively studied 121 children admitted to two pediatric hospitals in Mexico City from 1996 to 2002. Clinical histories were obtained, electrophysiologic studies were performed to determine GBS subtype, and microbiologic studies were performed. RESULTS: Of the 121 children, 46 had AMAN and 32 had AIDP. The male to female ratio was 1.3 for AMAN cases (mean age = 6.3) and 3.0 for AIDP cases (mean age = 7.0). There was a strong seasonal distribution of AMAN cases in July to September. Children with AMAN, but not AIDP, had worsening of illness during hospitalization as judged by peak severity scores. Vomiting was more likely in AIDP (28.1%) vs AMAN (6.5%) (p = 0.012) and diarrhea was more common in AMAN (32.6%) than AIDP (12.5%) (p = 0.06). IgG anti-GM1 antibody titers were higher in patients with AMAN vs AIDP (p = 0.067). Anti-GD1a antibodies were equally present in both groups. Anti GQ1b titers were higher in AMAN vs AIDP (p = 0.009). Campylobacter antibody responses were positive in 44.1% of patients with AMAN and 37.0% of patients with AIDP. Twenty patients (14 = AMAN, 6 = AIDP) had positive stool cultures for C jejuni. Two serotypes, HS:19 and HS:41, accounted for 6 of 10 Campylobacter isolates available for serotyping from these cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that acute motor axonal neuropathy is an important Guillain-Barré syndrome subtype in Mexican children, is associated with diarrhea, and occurs seasonally.

[Thrombophilia in patients with venous thromboembolism]. / Trombofilia en pacientes con tromboembolismo venoso.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of congenital and acquired thrombophilia and to analyse the clinical characteristics of a group of patients with high risk criteria for thrombophilia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-five consecutive patients seen at the anticoagulant outpatient clinic of the Oviedo Central Hospital between 1987 and 1993 were evaluated. The patients had to meet one or more of the following: 1) venous thrombosis (VT) under 45 years of age; 2) repeat VT; 3) family history of VT; 4) unusual VT location (mesenteric, brain, etc.). The study was performed 4 to 7 months after the first acute episode and at least one month after suppression of anti-vitamin K treatment. The following test were carried out: blood cell counts, basic coagulation tests (APTT, PT, TT, RT and fibrinogen), lupus-like anticoagulant detection, with and without platelet extract, diluted tissular thromboplastin inhibition test, antibodies, anticardiolipin, liver and kidney functional screen, cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and glycaemia. The venous occlusion test after 20-minute stasis was used for the global fibrinolysis study. The statistical evaluation was performed with the SPSS programme. RESULTS: Biologic alterations were present in 98 patients (35%), 12% corresponding to congenital thrombophilia and 23% to acquired thrombophilia. The study was normal in 187 patients (65%). Of the patients with congenital thrombophilia, 4.9% had protein C (PC) deficit, 3.4% protein S (PS) deficit, and 2.4% antithrombin III (AT-III) deficit. Of the patients with acquired thrombophilia, 4.5% had antiphospholipid antibodies and 18% had impaired fibrinolysis. Of all the data analysed, the patient history was found of scarce predictive value as to the risk for thrombophilia. Significant differences were found for family history of VT (p < 0.0005) and for the association of more than one criteria for inclusion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: No conclusions could be drawn from this study regarding the prophylactic attitude in patients with congenital abnormalities or anti-phospholipid antibodies. It is recommended to assess in such patients PC, PS and AT-III activities.