🔬 Other

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Also known as: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), Acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS)

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. This leads to muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, and numbness or tingling in the limbs. In severe cases, it can cause paralysis and affect breathing, requiring intensive care. Most individuals recover fully, but some have permanent nerve damage.

ICD-10: G61.0 Orphanet: 402 OMIM: 139300
👥 1-4 per 100,000 Prevalence
🔬 150 Active Trials

Imagine your body's police (immune system) get confused and start attacking your own nerves. This makes your muscles weak, like your legs feeling wobbly. Doctors can help by giving you special medicine to calm down the police or clean your blood to remove the attackers. Most people get better, but it takes time and help from therapists to get strong again.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Muscle weakness (usually starting in the legs and ascending)
  • Loss of reflexes
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
  • Pain (muscle aches, cramping)
  • Difficulty with eye movements and facial expressions
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Uncoordinated movement
  • Abnormal heart rate or blood pressure
  • Problems with bladder control or bowel function

Treatment Options

MEDICATION FDA Approved

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg)

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
THERAPY FDA Approved

Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis)

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
SUPPORTIVE

Mechanical Ventilation

SUPPORTIVE
MEDICATION FDA Approved

Pain Management (Medications)

SUPPORTIVE
THERAPY

Physical Therapy

SUPPORTIVE
THERAPY

Occupational Therapy

SUPPORTIVE
THERAPY

Speech Therapy

SUPPORTIVE

Diagnosis

  • Neurological examination
  • Nerve conduction studies (NCS)
  • Electromyography (EMG)
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to analyze cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Blood tests to rule out other conditions

History

Guillain-Barré Syndrome was first described in 1916 by Georges Guillain, Jean Alexandre Barré, and André Strohl, who reported two soldiers with ascending paralysis and areflexia.

Recent Breakthroughs

2023

Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies and GBS Subtypes

Research continues to refine the understanding of specific anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with different GBS subtypes (e.g., AMAN, MFS), aiding in more precise diagnosis and potentially targeted therapies.

2022

Role of Complement Activation in GBS Pathogenesis

Studies are investigating the role of the complement system in GBS pathogenesis, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for complement inhibitors.