Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- 11 Central Nervous System Infections in Adults
- 12 Cerebrovascular Disease
- 13 Movement Disorders
- 14 Peripheral Nervous System and Neuromuscular Disorders
- 15 Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- 16 Myasthenia Gravis
- 17 Musculoskeletal and Neurogenic Pain
- 18 Neuro-Ophthalmological Emergencies
- 19 Multiple Sclerosis
- 20 Dementia
- 21 Brain Tumors and Other Neuro-Oncological Emergencies
- 22 Neuropsychiatry
- 23 Increased Intracranial Pressure and Herniation Syndromes
- 24 Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- 25 Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- 26 Nontraumatic Spinal Cord Emergencies
- 27 Sleep Disorders
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
15 - Guillain-Barré Syndrome
from SECTION III - SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- 11 Central Nervous System Infections in Adults
- 12 Cerebrovascular Disease
- 13 Movement Disorders
- 14 Peripheral Nervous System and Neuromuscular Disorders
- 15 Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- 16 Myasthenia Gravis
- 17 Musculoskeletal and Neurogenic Pain
- 18 Neuro-Ophthalmological Emergencies
- 19 Multiple Sclerosis
- 20 Dementia
- 21 Brain Tumors and Other Neuro-Oncological Emergencies
- 22 Neuropsychiatry
- 23 Increased Intracranial Pressure and Herniation Syndromes
- 24 Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- 25 Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- 26 Nontraumatic Spinal Cord Emergencies
- 27 Sleep Disorders
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
Summary
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a form of acute inflammatory (demyelinating) polyneuropathy. It causes rapidly ascending numbness and weakness. In the early phase, a high index of suspicion for GBS is essential in the presence of ascending numbness and weakness because ancillary tests may not help. A normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level in the early phase or a finding of numerous lymphocytes does not exclude the diagnosis of GBS. By end of first week of illness, CSF analysis usually reveals normal CSF pressure and elevated protein without leukocytosis termed albuminocytological dissociation. Despite advances in the treatment of GBS, good supportive care is still the most important determinant of favorable outcome. Cardiac monitoring is routine for patients with severe findings. Respiratory status is assessed with periodic vital capacities. Elective endotracheal intubation for ventilatory support is considered when the vital capacity is below 15 ml/kg.
Keywords
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- Chapter
- Information
- Principles and Practice of Emergency NeurologyHandbook for Emergency Physicians, pp. 175 - 179Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003
References
Dyck P J, Thomas P K, eds. Peripheral Neuropathy, 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1993
Hughes R. Guillain-Barré Syndrome. London: Springer-Verlag; 1990
Victor M, Ropper A, eds. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology, 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2001