Electrophysiological subtypes and prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome in northeastern China.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to assess the electrophysiological subtypes and prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in northeastern China.

METHODS

Ninety-nine patients with GBS were recruited between 2006 and 2010 and retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven percent of patients had acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). Patients with acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) had more severe symptoms at onset of GBS, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was less effective in these patients. The prognosis may have been associated with the severity of the illness and did not differ between AMAN and AIDP patients. Abnormal motor nerve conduction studies (NCS) of the lower limbs and sensory NCS of the upper limbs with normal sural sensory nerve studies were the main electrophysiological features of AIDP.

CONCLUSIONS

AIDP is the main subtype of GBS, and it has specific electrophysiological characteristics in northeastern China. The prognosis of patients with AMAN was similar to that of patients with AIDP. Moreover, IVIg was more effective in patients with AIDP.