GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME; THE SEASONAL TRENDS IN A COHORT OF PAKISTANI POPULATION FROM SOUTHERN PUNJAB

Abstract

Objective: To report the seasonal trends of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a cohort of Pakistani population from southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Study Design: A retrospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Combined Military Hospital Bahawalpur, from Jan 2016 to Oct 2018.

Methodology: One-hundred and fifty-two individuals fulfilling the electrophysiological criteria of Guillain-Barré Syndrome were included from the records of the department and subdivided into four main subtypes on the basis of electrodiagnostic studies including Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy, Acute Motor and Sensory Axonal Neuropathy, and Miller Fisher Syndrome. The seasons were divided as: summer; May to August, autumn; September and October, winter; November to February, and spring; March and April. Demographic characteristics, type of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and month and season of presentation were investigated. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20.

Results: The sample (mean age: 39 ± 21 years) consisted of 114 (75%) males and 38 (25%) females. The highest reporting (63, 41.4%) was in winter followed by (53, 34.9%) summer (p<0.001). May was the peak reporting (n=24) month with January to follow (n=20) (p=0.002). Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy was the most frequent sub-type 88 (57.9%). Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy were significantly more frequent in winter season (p<0.001 and p=0.008 respectively) while Acute Motor and Sensory Axonal Neuropathy was in summer season (p=0.01). Regarding the association with a particular month, Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.......