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Semin Neurol 2012; 32(03): 179-186
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1329196
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Ximena Arcila-Londono
1   Henry Ford Health System Department of Neurology
,
Richard A. Lewis
2   Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
01 November 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, which has various clinical presentations and both axonal and demyelinating forms. The original description of “ascending paralysis” encompasses the most common varieties: the primary demyelinating form, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), and some of the axonal forms, acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). However, there are now well-documented acute “monophasic” polyneuropathies that have a different clinical phenomenology than that described originally by Guillain, Barré, and Strohl: Miller Fisher syndrome, pure sensory neuropathy/neuronopathy, pandysautonomia, and oropharyngeal variant. Here the authors review both typical GBS (AIDP, AMAN, and AMSAN), and variant syndromes with a focus on clinical and diagnostic features, pathologic findings, pathogenesis, and treatment.

Keywords

Guillain-Barré syndrome - acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy - acute motor axonal neuropathy - acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy - Fisher syndrome
 

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