Guillain–Barré syndrome

Disease class: Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system
Disease class: Demyelinating diseases
Disease class: Peripheral nervous system diseases
Disease class: Polyradiculoneuropathy 

Also known as 

• GBS 
• Postinfectious polyneuritis

Subtypes

• Miller Fisher syndrome (observed in about 5% of GBS cases, classic triad of ataxia, areflexia, and ophthalmoplegia)

 

Pathophysiology

• There is an autoimmune response.
• There is an acute-onset demyelination. 
• There is sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
• The muscles of respiration may become paralysed. This can cause respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation.

 

Chronic counterpart

• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

 

Management

• Airway management
• Tracheal intubation
• Mechanical ventilation

 

Investigations

• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
• Electromyography

 

Compare with

• Botulism
• Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome
• Myasthenia gravis
• Organophosphate poisoning