[Clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in 41 patients admitted to a public hospital].

BACKGROUND

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the commonest cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide, with an incidence of 0.6-4 per 100.000 inhabitants per year. It affects all age groups and carries an incapacity burden of up to 20%.

AIM

To describe the features of GBS in adult Chilean patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Review of medical records of 41 patients aged 17 to 81 years (30 males) admitted to a public hospital with the diagnosis of GBS between 2003 and 2009. According to clinical and electrophysiological criteria, the patients were classified into different varieties of GBS.

RESULTS

The incidence of GBS was higher in males (2.7:1) and the demyelinated GBS variety was found in 66% of cases. According to the Hughes’ disability score, patients treated with plasmapheresis, showed non-statistically significant better outcomes than those treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.

CONCLUSIONS

In this group of patients the demyelinated variety of GBS was more common than the axonal type. Although not statistically significant, the better response to plasmapheresis is encouraging and should prompt a controlled study.