IS GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME DIFFERENT IN PAKISTAN?

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To assess clinical presentations and subtypes of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pakistan.
Study Design: Retrospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: CMH Lahore, Abbotabad, Quetta & Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation
Medicine form Jan 2007 to Feb 2015.
Material and Methods: The relevant history, demographic features, clinical presentations and subtypes of GBS in
211 patients fulfilling the clinical and electrodiagnostic criteria were investigated.
Results: The average age of the patients was 37.36 years (62.7% M, 37.3% F). Clinically 66.8%, 17.8% and 15.4%
presented as ascending paralysis, simultaneous quadriparesis and paraparesis respectively. About 38.1% of the
patients presented with cranial nerves involvement, 87.4% presented with areflexia while 59.5% reported pain.
The GBS subtypes identified were acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (21.9%), acute motor
axonal neuropathy (38.9%), acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (35.6%) and fisher syndrome (3.6%).
Conclusion: The GBS presents in young, as an ascending paralysis, main subtypes of GBS in Pakistan are axonal
and this highlights the importance of local management guidelines and preventive medicine.