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Guillain‐Barré syndrome. A clinical electrophysiological and biochemical study
Author(s) -
Kaur U.,
Chopra J. S.,
Prabhakar S.,
Radhakrishnan K.,
Rana S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1986.tb03295.x
Subject(s) - medicine , weakness , denervation , abnormality , electromyography , nerve conduction velocity , peripheral neuropathy , electrophysiology , motor nerve , surgery , anesthesia , anatomy , diabetes mellitus , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychiatry , endocrinology
Fifty‐six consecutive patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome representing 49% of all cases of peripheral neuropathy (except those due to diabetes mellitus and leprosy) admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh over a period of three years were studied. All patients developed weakness of limbs within one day to three weeks. Attenuation of deep tendon jerks (98%) paresthesia (66%), cranial nerve involvement (41%) and antecedent infection (32%) were the common clinical features. The common patterns of motor weakness were predominantly proximal in all the four limbs (45%) or predominantly proximal in lower limbs along with distal muscles in upper limbs (29%). Electrodiagnostic studies revealed prolonged distal (motor) latency (82%), reduced motor nerve conduction velocity (74%), sensory nerve conduction abnormality (85%) and evidence of denervation (41%). Evoked motor response of median, ulnar, common peroneal and tibial nerves exhibited significant increase in duration and reduction in amplitude. The maximum incidence of electrophysiological abnormality occurred between four to 12 weeks after the onset of neurological symptoms. Four patients died and 11 showed poor recovery. Long intervals (> 3 weeks) between peak deficit and onset of recovery and coexistence of reduced motor nerve conduction velocity with evidence of denervation on EMG were found to be associated with poor recovery.