INTRODUCTION

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. Initial symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, in severe cases, the patient may be almost totally paralyzed. Such cases constitute a medical emergency. Most individuals, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have a certain degree of weakness.

GBS can affect anyone. It can strike at any age and both men and women are equally prone to the disorder. The syndrome is quite rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Very often GBS occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has suffered from a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. On occasion, surgery or vaccinations can trigger the syndrome.

After the first clinical manifestations of the disease, the symptoms can progress over the course of hours, days, or weeks. Most people reach the stage of greatest weakness within the first 2 weeks after symptoms appear, and by the third week of the illness 90 percent of all patients are at their weakest.