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Q J Med 2002; 95: 717-721
© 2002 Association of Physicians

Review

Treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome

J.B. Winer

From the Department of Neurology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.


   Introduction
 
Although there are earlier clinical descriptions of rapidly progressive weakness that may well have been cases of acute inflammatory neuropathy, Guillain, Barré and Strohl in 19161 were the first to demonstrate the peripheral nature of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) by careful recording and interpretation of the tendon reflexes, and thus justified their inclusion in its name. Guillain and his colleagues treated their two patients with bed rest and injections of strychnine, a common treatment at the time. With better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and the benefit of controlled trials of a variety of treatments we now have a much firmer evidence base for therapy. This review attempts to summarize and analyse this evidence base.

GBS is an acute neuropathy. Diagnostic criteria were defined for research purposes back in 19812 and have been subsequently refined.3 Essentially, diagnosis requires progressive weakness of more than one limb, over a period of . . . [Full Text of this Article]


   Supportive management
 

   Active treatment of GBS
 
Steroids
Plasma exchange
Intravenous immunoglobulin

   Conclusion
 

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