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

Abstract

Introduction: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute polyradiculoneuropathy with varied severity of presentation. Objectives: To study clinical presentation, electrodiagnostic variations, hospital care and outcome of patients of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). Current research aimed to study efficacy of Plasmapharesis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in patients of GBS. Material and Methods: 78 patients of GBS were studied in detail including history, clinical examination and investigations. Patients were treated with Plasmapharesis and IVIG; and outcome was observed. Results: Commonest age group affected was 13-40 yrs. The male:female ratio was 1.2:1. Antecedent infection were present in 42 out of 78 patients. Quadriparesis was present in 74 patients and paraparesis in four patients. Cranial nerve involvement was seen in 47 out of 78 patients. Areflexia was found in all 78 patients. Albuminocytologic dissociation was present in 44 out of 61 patients underwent CSF examination. NCV findings show conduction velocity slowing, delayed f latencies in 92% patients. Out of 72 patients, 33[43%] required mechanical ventilation. Out of 78 patients, 71 were treated with Plasmapharesis and seven patients were treated with IVIG. Out of 78 patients 56 [72%] patients recovered completely, 19 [24%] patients died and three [four%] patients developed severe neurologic deficit. Conclusion: GBS is more common in male as compare to female. Commonest presentation is paresthesia in legs and ascending paralysis. Patients who received treatment early in the course of disease had faster recovery. Plasmapheresis and IVIG both showed similar efficacy in treating GBS.