Guillain-Barre syndrome

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Superficial anterior muscles

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Alternative Names:

Landry-Guillain-Barre syndrome; Acute idiopathic polyneuritis; Infectious polyneuritis; Acute inflammatory polyneuropathy
Treatment:

In the past, before treatment was available, many patients recovered completely with time. However, symptoms may be severe during the course of the disorder, and hospitalization is usually required to support breathing function and prevent complications and to provide physical therapy.

text continues below

Plasmaphoresis may decrease the severity of the symptoms and facilitate a more rapid recovery. In this procedure, blood plasma, which contains antibodies, is removed from the body and replaced with intravenous fluids or antibody-free donated plasma. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is equally effective in reducing the severity and duration of the symptoms.

Other treatments are directed at preventing complications such as choking during feeding (through positioning or use of a feeding tube), blood clots (through positioning and sometimes blood thinners), intermittent bladder catheterization, and others. Pain is treated aggressively with anti-inflammatory agents and narcotics if needed.

Support Groups:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation International

Expectations (prognosis):

Almost all cases (95%) survive and the majority recover completely. Mild weakness may persist for some people. The outcome is most likely to be very good when symptoms remit within 3 weeks of their onset.

Complications:

Breathing difficulty (respiratory failure)
Aspiration of food or fluids into the lungs
Pneumonia
Increased risk of infections
Deep vein thrombosis
Permanent loss of movement of an area
Contractures of joints or other deformity

Calling your health care provider:

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if loss of movement, decreased sensation or other emergency symptoms occur, including difficulty swallowing or breathing, feeling "unable to take a deep breath," or fainting.