Electrodiagnostic and clinical aspects of Guillain-Barré syndrome: an analysis of 142 cases.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and its subtypes varies throughout the world.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

We present a retrospective analysis of 142 GBS cases, treated at our center, aimed at classifying GBS electrophysiologically, to study the sequential electrophysiological changes in cases with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), and to look for any clinical and cerebrospinal fluid parameters that can also help in distinguishing the subtypes.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one (85.2%) cases had AIDP, 15 (10.6%) had acute motor axonal neuropathy, and 6 (4.2%) were unclassifiable.

CONCLUSIONS

Motor conduction blocks and temporal dispersion could be observed from days 3 and 5 onward, respectively. Progression of motor conduction slowing in AIDP was most impressive in the median nerves. Varying affection of deep tendon reflexes, cranial nerves, and cerebrospinal fluid albuminocytological dissociation can also help make a distinction between AIDP and acute motor axonal neuropathy. Sural sparing, a marker of demyelinating neuropathy, is more commonly seen in later than in early stages of AIDP.