What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that is generally caused by an acute infection by outside antigens, such as vaccines or by a viral or bacterial infection. Once introduced to the system of someone susceptible to developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, the antigens attack nerve tissues, causing an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system.
Also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and Landry’s ascending paralysis, Guillain-Barré syndrome causes a rapid onset of weakness and paralysis of the muscles of the legs and arms, and can progress to the chest, face and eyes.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is statistically fairly common, affecting 1-2 out of every 100,000 people. It is the most common source of rapidly acquired paralysis in the United States. (GBS/CIDP Foundation International)
How do I know if I have Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome generally makes a dramatic entrance. The weakness and paralysis associated with the disease come on very quickly. In addition to the weakness and paralysis, patients may experience loss of their deep tendon reflexes, and strange sensations in the body. Fortunately, because of the severity of its advance in the peripheral nervous system, and its prevalence as the most common cause of rapid onset paralysis, most patients are diagnosed fairly quickly after the symptoms of the disorder appear.
To make a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a patient must experience a progressive weakness of at least two limbs associated with neuropathy, and areflexia (the lack of deep tendon reflexes, such as knee jerk) over a course of less than four weeks. Also helpful for diagnostic purposes are indications of symmetry to the weakness, mild sensory involvement, involvement of the nerves of the face or cranium, and a lack of accompanying fever. (Wikipedia) In addition, a lumbar puncture is performed to check for elevated levels of protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Nerve sheath demylenation can be detected by electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies.
How serious is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is considered to be a very serious condition. If caught early and treated sufficiently, most people who contract Guillain-Barré syndrome make a full recovery, but it is imperative that patients suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome in any degree of severity are closely monitored, none-the-less. The recovery process can be long and difficult. It is common for patients to require breathing assistance from a respirator during the treatment and recovery process of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Some cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome are mild, while others experience near total paralysis from the disorder. It is difficult to predict the progression that Guillain-Barré syndrome will follow when it is first diagnosed, so most patients are hospitalized and placed in intensive care when the disease is first discovered, even if their symptoms appear to be mild. Should the paralysis spread to the chest and lungs, and affect the breathing, it is important that a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome be closely monitored. In extreme cases, severe pulmonary paralysis or complications can lead to death.
How is Guillain-Barré syndrome treated?
Patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome will most likely be admitted into the intensive care unit of their local hospital. They will be given high doses of immunoglobulins intravenously, and will have their blood cleansed through a plasma exchange.
Rehabilitation services following hospitalization may be required to help patients regain function in the muscles of the paralyzed parts of the body.
