[Electrophysiological subtypes and long term prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the electrophysiological subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), and long-term prognosis in northeastern China.

METHODS

One hundred and eighteen patients with GBS were recruited between 2010 and 2012 and retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

According to electrodiagnostic criteria, patients were classified as AMAN (49, 46.7%) or AIDP (39, 37.1%), or were unclassified (17, 16.2%). Between the AMAN and AIDP groups, age, sex, and clinical disability did not differ significantly, but the AMAN patients more frequently had preceding gastroenteritis. By 4 weeks after onset, 24.5% of the AMAN patients (12) and 33.3% of the AIDP patients (13) had regained the ability to walk; by 1 year, 77.6% of the AMAN patients (38) and 79.5% of the AIDP patients (31) could walk. Recovery was generally favorable in both subtypes. Immunotherapy was effective in patients with either AIDP or AMAN, and glucocorticoids and immunoglobulin treatment could achieve similar effect.

CONCLUSIONS

AMAN and AIDP are the main subtypes of GBS in northeastern China. The prognosis of patients with AMAN is similar to that of patients with AIDP. Different immunotherapies have similar effect on long term prognosis.