[Guillain-Barré syndrome. Variation on the theme].

Guillain-Barré syndrome, or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, is a frequent cause of acute onset of flaccid paresis and areflexia. Electrophysiological studies show demyelination, sometimes with varying degrees of axonal degeneration. In some cases axonal degeneration apparently develops rapidly, without signs of primary demyelination. However, it is still a matter of discussion whether a pure axonal form of Guillain-Barré syndrome exists, or whether the axonal degeneration is secondary to demyelination. We report on clinical and electrophysiological findings in three patients with variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome. These include pure demyelination, combined demyelination and axonal degeneration and possible primary axonal degeneration. Electrophysiological studies can differentiate between the variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome, and thus give indications of pathogenesis and prognosis.