Table 4

Overview of PE or IVIg RCTs with outcome measures based on GBS disability scale

Study	Number of patients	Design	Inclusion criteria	Improvement by ≥1 functional grades at 4 weeks	Time to onset of motor recovery	Time to recover walking with aid	Time to recover walking without aid	Ventilatory assistance
Greenwood et al 198450	29	Supportive care vs PE	Age >3 years Disability grade ≥3 Onset ≤30 days	40% vs 50% p=NS				80% vs 57% p=NR
Osterman et al 198451	38	Supportive care vs PE	Adults <80 years Disability grade ≥3	30% vs 78% p<0.025	17 vs 9 days p<0.05
GBS study group 198517	245	Supportive care vs PE	Age >12 years Disability grade ≥3 Onset ≤30 days	39% vs 59% p<0.01			83 vs 53 days p<0.001	42% vs 47% p=NR
French group 198718	220	Supportive care vs PE	Age >16 years Regardless severity Randomisation ≤17 days after the onset of motor signs	37% vs 61% p=NR	13 vs 6 days p<0.011	44 vs 30 days p<0.01	111 vs 70 days p<0.001	43% vs 21% p<0.005
Van der Meché and Schmitz 199248	147	PE vs IVIg	Age >4 years Disability grade ≥3 Onset ≤14 days	34% vs 53% p=0.024			69 vs 55 days p=0.07	42% vs 27% p<0.05
Bril et al 199649	50	PE vs IVIg	Age ≥14 years Disability grade ≥2	61% vs 69% p=NS
French group 199727	91	Supportive care vs 2 PE sessions	Age >16 years Onset ≤30 days Mildly affected patients	28% vs 58% p=NR	8 vs 4 days p=0.0002	14 vs 12 days p=0.8	28 vs 15 days p=0.40	13% vs 2% p=0.11
	304	2 PE vs 4 PE sessions	Moderately affected patients		6 vs 5 days p=0.1	24 vs 20 days p=0.04	64 vs 52 days p=0.13	28% vs 26% p=1.00
	161	4 PE vs 6 PE sessions	Severely affected patients		8 vs 8 days p=0.11	56 vs 60 days p=0.89	113 vs 103 days p=0.64	100% vs 100%
PSGBS group 199710	379	PE vs IVIg vs PE followed by IVIg	Age >16 years Disability grade ≥3 Onset ≤14 days				49 vs 51 vs 40 days p=NS	23% vs 22% vs 16% p=NS
Diener et al 200152	76	PE vs immune-adsorption vs IVIg	Age unknown Regardless severity Onset ≤14 days	71% vs 80% p=NS
Raphael et al 200153	39	IVIg 3 vs 6 days	Age >16 years Regardless severity Onset ≤30 days Contra-indications to PE	22% vs 44% p=0.27		131 vs 84 days p=0.08	152 vs 97 days p=0.39	67% vs 33% p=0.004
Van Koningsveld et al 200454	225	IVIg with or without methylprednisolone (or placebo)	Age >6 years Disability grade ≥3 Onset <14 days	68% vs 56% p=0.06			28 vs 56 days p=0.37	21% vs 23% p=0.77

Data are shown as medians or proportions with p values.
GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; IVIg, intravenous immunoglobulin; NR, not reported; NS, not significant; PE, plasma exchange; RCT, randomised controlled trial.