J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2001 Sep;19(5):503-508.

Clinical Characteristics of the Subtypes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome according to the Electrodiagnositic Criteria

• Kim JD
• Kim MK
• Ahn JY
• Kim JY
• Kim BJ
• Kim JY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is defined as a recognizable clinical entity that is characterized by rapidly evolving symmetric limb weakness, loss of tendon reflexes, absent or mild sensory signs, and variable autonomic dysfunctions. Recently, GBS has been classified as a classical demyelinating (acute imflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, AIDP) and two axonal (acute motor axonal neuropathy, AMAN, and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy, AMSAN) forms. The clinical pattern and prognosis according to type is not clear.
METHODS
Forty-one patients clinically diagnosed as GBS were enrolled and classified as AIDP, AMAN, and AMSAN according to electrodiagnostic criteria. We analyzed the clinical data of each subgroup; age, sex, seasonal distribution, history of previous illness, cranial nerve involvement, respiratory involvement, and motor weakness.
RESULTS
Forty-one patients with GBS were comprised of 19 patients (46.3%) with AIDP, 12 patients (29.2%) with AMAN, and 10 patients (24.3%) with AMSAN. AIDP was found more frequently in males and in winter (42.1%) while axonal forms of GBS showed neither gender nor seasonal predominance. Frequency of cranial nerve involvement was not different between the sub-groups of GBS, whereas respiratory involvement was more frequent in AMSAN (50%). Upper limbs were weaker in axonal than in demyelinating types of GBS.
CONCLUSIONS
Axonal forms of GBS showed some clinical characteristics distinctive from the demyelinating forms, which might be useful in the differential diagnosis of subgroups of GBS. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):503~508, 2001)

Keyword

Guillain-Barre syndrome; Acute imflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy; Acute motor axonal neuropathy; Acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy

MeSH Terms

Amantadine
Axons
Cranial Nerves
Diagnosis, Differential
Extremities
Guillain-Barre Syndrome*
Humans
Male
Polyradiculoneuropathy
Prognosis
Reflex, Stretch
Seasons
Upper Extremity
Amantadine