Guillain-Barré syndrome (patient information)

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What is Guillain-Barr syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness.

What are the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Symptoms of Guillain-Barré can get worse very quickly. It may take only a few hours to reach the most severe symptoms, but weakness increasing over several days is also common.

Muscle weakness or the loss of muscle function (paralysis) affects both sides of the body. In most cases, the muscle weakness starts in the legs and then spreads to the arms. This is called ascending paralysis.

Patients may notice tingling, foot or hand pain, and clumsiness. If the inflammation affects the nerves to the diaphragm, and there is weakness in those muscles, the person may need breathing assistance.

Typical symptoms include:

• Loss of reflexes in the arms and legs
• Muscle weakness or loss of muscle function (paralysis)
  • In mild cases, there may be no weakness or paralysis
  • May begin in the arms and legs at the same time
  • May get worse over 24 to 72 hours
  • May occur in the nerves of the head only
  • May start in the arms and move downward
  • May start in the feet and legs and move up to the arms and head
• Numbness, decreased sensation
• Sensation changes
• Tenderness or muscle pain (may be a cramp-like pain)
• Uncoordinated movement

Additional symptoms may include:

• Blurred vision
• Clumsiness and falling
• Difficulty moving face muscles
• Muscle contractions
• Palpitations (sensation of feeling heartbeat)

Emergency symptoms (seek immediate medical help):

• Breathing temporarily stops
• Can't take a deep breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Drooling
• Fainting
• Feeling light-headed when standing

What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder (the body's immune system attacks itself). Exactly what triggers Guillain-Barré syndrome is unknown. The syndrome may occur at any age, but is most common in people of both sexes between ages 30 and 50.

It often follows a minor infection, usually a lung infection or gastrointestinal infection. Usually, signs of the original infection have disappeared before the symptoms of Guillain-Barre begin.

Guillain-Barré syndrome causes inflammation that damages parts of nerves. This nerve damage causes tingling, muscle weakness, and paralysis. The inflammation usually affects the nerve's covering (myelin sheath). Such damage is called demyelination. Demyelination slows nerve signaling. Damage to other parts of the nerve can cause the nerve to stop working.

Guillain-Barré syndrome may occur along with viral infections such as:

• AIDS
• Herpes simplex
• Mononucleosis

It may also occur with other medical conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus or Hodgkin's disease.

Some people may get Guillain-Barré syndrome after a bacterial infection or certain vaccinations (such as rabies and swine flu). A similar syndrome may occur after surgery, or when critically ill.

Treatment options

There is no cure for Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, many treatments are available to help reduce symptoms, treat complications, and speed up recovery.

When symptoms are severe, the patient will need to go to the hospital for breathing help, treatment, and physical therapy.

A method called plasmapheresis is used to remove proteins, called antibodies, from the blood. The process involves taking blood from the body, usually from the arm, pumping it into a machine that removes the antibodies, then sending it back into the body.

High-dose immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg) is another treatment used to reduce the severity and length of Guillain-Barré symptoms. In this case, the immunoglobulins are added to the blood in large quantity, blocking the antibodies that cause inflammation.

Other treatments are directed at preventing complications.

• Blood thinners may be used to prevent blood clots.
• If the diaphragm is weak, breathing support or even a breathing tube and ventilator may be needed.
• Pain is treated aggressively with anti-inflammatory medicines and narcotics, if needed.
• Proper body positioning or a feeding tube may be used to prevent choking during feeding if the muscles for swallowing are weak.

Where to find medical care for Guillain-Barré syndrome

Directions to Hospitals Treating Guillain-Barré syndrome