guillain barre

guillain a french neurologist barre another

G - glanduoar fever, mycoplasma or viral
U - urti may precede
I - inflammation invasion of nerve roots
L - leg weakness, then arms and then face
L - lower motor neurone weakness
A - autonomic lesions, hypotension, retention of urine and tachycardia
I - implication of respiratory muscles
N - nerves are demyelinated, paraesthesiae occurs

B - bulbar musculature affected
A - acute or subacute polyneuropathy
R - raised protein in csf
R- residual muscle weakness may occur
E - emg show pattern changes in 3-4 weeks

2/100,000 a year

possible aetiology -rarely - trauma, surgery and malignancy

if axon damaged then regeneration impossible
3 weeks of onset of viral illnbess 60%
back pain an occasional presentation
muscle weakness evolves over 3-21 days
tendon reflexes lost plantars stay normal

5% develop chronic illness

campylobacter serology - positive titres - poorer prognosis group

death 8%
33% not recovered in 12m
median recovery time 9/12

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