Guillain-Barré syndrome in south-west Stockholm, 1973-1991, 2. Clinical epidemiology.

The clinicoepidemiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were studied using population-based information from medical records of 69 patients in South-West Stockholm, during the period from January 1973 to June 1992. The diagnoses were validated according to the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke criteria. Mean age at onset was 43 +/- 20 years. For 46 patients, events during the 30-day period preceding clinical onset, 74% of them identified as respiratory infections, were recorded. The presence of preceding events was associated with male gender. A more rapid clinical progression was found among women. A CSF/serum albumin ratio > or = 10, denervation potentials and mechanical ventilation required were associated with poor recovery or long duration of hospitalization. Reduced motor conduction velocity was more common and pronounced among older patients and with a high CSF/serum albumin ratio. These results suggest that there is clinical, electrophysiological and epidemiological heterogeneity in GBS, and that clinicoepidemiological subgroups of GBS may exist.