Chronic progressive axonal polyneuropathy simulating Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Six cases of chronic progressive and/or relapsing polyneuropathy are reported. All cases were idiopathic at the beginning of observation. Electrophysiological examination and biopsy of sural nerve in all cases as well as autopsy of spinal roots S1 in case 6 showed loss of fibers and axonal degeneration of myelinated fibers but neither active demyelination nor inflammatory cells were observed. Chronic progressive or relapsing idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy appear to be a distinct entity different from GBS. The term "axonal GBS" seems to be questionable.