Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is noted for the loss of myelin (nerve insulation) in peripheral nerves due to an acute and progressive inflammation of unknown cause that instigates an autoimmune reaction, in which the sufferer's immune system is triggered into damaging the nerve covering. There is some support for this in that half of all cases occur soon after a microbial infection or respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection.
Peripheral nerves originate in the spinal cord and proceed to muscle, skin, or internal organs. The portions closest to the spinal cord are called nerve roots and the inflammation in most (but not all) typical Guillain-Barré syndrome cases starts in these roots.
Extensive damage of myelin causes disturbances in peripheral nerve functions, which can be classified as motor (affecting the muscle), sensory (affecting the skin) or autonomic (affecting the internal organs). Therefore, patients usually show two or more of the following symptoms: weakness (often symmetrical, in ascending fashion, leading to respiratory failure in one-third of cases), decreased sensation (numbness, loss of position sense), severe fluctuations in blood pressure, irregularities of heart rate, constipation and incontinence. Additional symptoms may be blurred vision, difficulty moving facial muscles, difficulty swallowing, and drooling. Approximately 80% of patients have a complete recovery and about 5 - 10% recover with severe disability. However, this is a grave disease and despite all improvements in treatment and supportive care, the death rate among patients with this disease is still about 2 - 3% even in the best intensive care units. Worldwide, the death rate runs slightly higher (4%), mostly from a lack of availability of life support equipment during the lengthy plateau lasting 4 to 6 weeks when a ventilator is needed in the worse cases.
For further information:- GBS/CIDP Syndrome Foundation International focuses on providing informative support and increasing the opportunities for patients, family and friends to network and communicate.
Last modified: 2006-10-18
