The clinical and laboratory data of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with and without fluctuations related to treatment
| Features | GBS patients without fluctuations (n=156) | GBS patients with fluctuations (n=16) | p Value1-150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical characteristics | |||
| Time from onset of weakness to treatment (in days, mean (95% CI)) | 5.6 (5.0 -6.2) | 5.4 (3.6 -7.3) | NS1-151 |
| Time until nadir (in days, mean (95% CI)) | 9.0 (8.2 - 9.7) | 11 (8.4 -13.6) | 0.081-151 |
| Predominant weakness (n (%)): | |||
| Distal | 59 (37) | 0 (0) | 0.003 |
| Proximal | 36 (23) | 7 (44) | 0.06 |
| Global | 47 (30) | 8 (50) | 0.09 |
| Mixed | 9 (6) | 1 (6) | NS |
| MRC sumscore at entry (mean (95% CI)) | 36 (34-38) | 40 (34-45) | NS1-151 |
| MRC sumscore at nadir (mean (95% CI)) | 28 (26 -31) | 31 (22-40) | NS1-151 |
| Motor GBS group (n (%)) | 27/147 (17) | 0 (0) | 0.06 |
| Antecedent infections (n (%)): | |||
| URTI | 61/155 (39) | 7/14 (50) | NS |
| Gastrointestinal tract | 29 (19) | 0 (0) | 0.06 |
| Laboratory findings (n (%)): | |||
| Positive C jejuni serology | 45/140 (32)1-152 | 4/14 (29)1-152 | NS |
| Positive CMV serology | 18/148 (12)1-152 | 4/15 (27)1-152 | 0.1 |
| Anti-GM1 antibodies | 31/140 (22)1-152 | 0/14 (0) 1-152 | 0.05 |
| Electrodiagnostic characteristics (mean (95% CI)): | |||
| SNAP ulnar nerve (V entry): | 12 (9-14) | 8 (1-14) | NS |
| Week 1 | 14 (8-13) | 4 (0-12) | 0.06 |
| Week 4 | 11 (8-14) | 6 (0-16) | 0.006 |
| SNAP median nerve (V entry): | 13 (10-16) | 7 (0-16) | 0.06 |
| Week 1 | 12 (8-15) | 4 (0-10) | 0.02 |
| Week 4 | 12 (8-15) | 3 (0-9) | 0.004 |
↵1-150 p Values were derived from the χ2 test, two tailed unless indicated otherwise.
↵1-151 Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, two tailed.
↵1-152 Number tested.
F ⩾ 3 = not able to walk 10 m without support or worse; MRC = Medical Research Council score; motor GBS = patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome, who did not have sensory loss on clinical examination during a follow up period of six months (acute motor neuropathy); URTI= upper respiratory tract infection; CMV = cytomegalovirus; C jejuni = Campylobacter jejuni; SNAP= sensory nerve action potential.