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Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Mark Stephens, MD MS Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A group of acquired autoimmune disorders causing acute peripheral neuropathy and ascending paralysis that progressively worsens for up to 4 weeks followed by a slow spontaneous recov...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • AIDP presents with onset of progressive limb weakness that reaches its worst within 4 weeks (73% reach a functional nadir in 1 week; 98% by 1 month).

  • Preceding respiratory or gastroint...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Consider admission to ensure that disease does not progress (respiratory function; autonomic stability; paralysis).

  • Supportive care is essential, paying close attention to com...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Patients require close monitoring of respiratory, cardiac, and hemodynamic function, typically in the ICU setting.

  • Pulmonary function testing (VC...

REFERENCES

1
Hughes  RA, Swan  AV, van Doorn  PA. Intravenous immunoglobulin for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.  2014;(9):CD002063.  [View Abstract] ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Hangau AR, Constantin A, et al. Peripheral nervous system involvement associated with COVID-19. A systematic review of literature. PLoS One. 2023;18(4):e0283827...

CODES

ICD10

G61.0 Guillain-Barré syndrome 

SNOMED

40956001 Guillain-Barre syndrome (disorder) 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Suspect GBS in cases of symmetrical ascending flaccid paralysis with areflexia and an antecedent history of viral respiratory illness or gastroenteritis.

  • When GBS is suspected, evaluate...

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