Guillain-Barre syndrome
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-27-2021
Abstract
Guillain-Barre syndrome is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide. Most patients present with an antecedent illness, most commonly upper respiratory tract infection, before the onset of progressive motor weakness. Several microorganisms have been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, most notably Campylobacter jejuni, Zika virus, and in 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In C jejuni-related Guillain-Barre syndrome, there is good evidence to support an autoantibody-mediated immune process that is triggered by molecular mimicry between structural components of peripheral nerves and the microorganism. Making a diagnosis of so-called classical Guillain-Barre syndrome is straightforward; however, the existing diagnostic criteria have limitations and can result in some variants of the syndrome being missed. Most patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome do well with immunotherapy, but a substantial proportion are left with disability, and death can occur. Results from the International Guillain-Barre Syndrome Outcome Study suggest that geographical variations exist in Guillain-Barre syndrome, including insufficient access to immunotherapy in low-income countries. There is a need to provide improved access to treatment for all patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and to develop effective disease-modifying therapies that can limit the extent of nerve injury. Clinical trials are currently underway to investigate some of the potential therapeutic candidates, including complement inhibitors, which, together with emerging data from large international collaborative studies on the syndrome, will contribute substantially to understanding the many facets of this disease.
Keywords
Guillain-Barre syndrome, Acute flaccid paralysis, Campylobacter jejuni, Zika virus
Divisions
medicinedept
Publication Title
Lancet
Volume
397
Issue
10280
Publisher
Elsevier Science Ltd
Publisher Location
STE 800, 230 PARK AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10169 USA