Guillain-Barre Syndrome Flashcards
What type of disorder is Guillain-Barre Syndrome? In general, what does t his syndrome affect?
autoimmune disorder, it affects the peripheral nervous system
What causes Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
it is idiopathic (but likely there is a problem with MHC/HLA genes)
What is the pathology of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
- preceded by an upper respiratory tract or GI infection (1-4 weeks)
- antibodies and T-cells target the myelin sheath in the PNS
- Shwann cell damage
- inflammation
- infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages
What microbes most often cause an infection that precedes Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
1) mostly Campylobacter jejuni
2) viruses (Epstein Barr virus)
What are the manifestations of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
- signs and symptoms of infection may or may not be present (syndrome can present 1-4 weeks after initial signs of infection)
- paresthesia (normally numbness and burning) in extremities first
- progressive, ascending muscle weakness and paralysis
- deep muscle pain (once at the shoulder and thigh)
- can lead to complete paralysis if no intervention, which can include respiratory failure
What is the mortality rate for Guillain-Barre syndrome and why is it so high?
30%, due to respiratory failure
How is Guillain-Barre syndrome treated?
- maintain vital function (ex. provide respiratory support)
- plasmapheresis to remove antibodies
- provide IV IgG to make up for all the antibodies you removed by plasmapheresis
- pain medications
Do people usually recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome?
yes, with intervention most people recover fully in 6-12 months, usually without any residual problems (because antibody levels won’t rise again)
How is Guillan-Barre syndrome diagnosed?
- history and presentation
- CSF analysis (PNS nerves originate in spinal cord, will show small elevation in proteins)
- EMG
