Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder that causes your immune system to attack your peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS nerves connect your brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body. Damage to these nerves makes it hard for them to transmit signals. As a result, your muscles have trouble responding to your brain. No one knows what causes the syndrome. Sometimes it is triggered by an infection, surgery or a vaccination.

The first symptom is usually weakness or a tingling feeling in your legs. The feeling can spread to your upper body. In severe cases, you become almost paralyzed. This is life-threatening. You might need a respirator to breathe. Symptoms usually worsen over a period of weeks, then stabilize. Most people recover. Recovery can take a few weeks to a few years. Treatment options during the symptom period include medicines or a procedure called plasma exchange.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Guillain-Barré Syndrome on Wikipedia

'''Guillain-Barré syndrome''' ('''GBS'''), is an acquired autoimmune disorder of the peripheral nervous system (i.e. ''not'' the brain or spinal cord). It is also called ''acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy'', ''acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis'', ''acute idiopathic polyneuritis'', ''French Polio'' and ''Landry's ascending paralysis''.

Overview

The pathologic hallmark of the disease is loss of myelin in peripheral nerves due to an acute and progressive inflammation of unknown cause. It is suggested that it is an autoimmune disease, in which the sufferer's immune system is triggered into damaging the nerve covering. There is some support for this in that half of all cases occur soon after a microbial infection or respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Many cases developed in people who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine. Peripheral nerves originate in the spinal cord and proceed to their target tissues (mainly muscle, skin and all internal organs). Their most proximal parts emerging from the spinal cord are called nerve roots and the inflammation in most (but not all) typical Guillain-Barré syndrome cases starts in these roots. Therefore, this condition is also referred to as ''acute polyradiculoneuritis''. Recent studies on the disease have demonstrated that approximately 80% of the patients have myelin loss, whereas, in the remaining 20%, the pathologic hallmark of the disease is indeed axon loss. The cases indicating the demyelinating form (AIDP) are called "acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy" (AMSAN); the cases showing only motor symptoms (diffuse weakness) are called "acute motor axonal neuropathy" (AMAN). In a different and infrequent variant called Miller Fisher syndrome, patients develop ataxia, loss of tendon reflexes, and difficulty moving eye muscles but not weakness or sensory loss. All variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome are now ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Guillain-Barre' Syndrome - My Worst Nightmare - The author of this book describes the struggles he faced with this illness and in writing this book hopes to help others and their families learn more about GBS so that they may be better prepared in the care giving of their loved one.

Dan's Spot on the Web - A parent's story about Paul, who has cerebral palsy and who experienced Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Paraproteinaemic Demyelinating Neuropathy - Personal website describing an unusual peripheral nerve disorder plus the two related neuropathies, GBS(Guillain-BarrĂŠ Syndrome) and CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy). The possible effects of atmospheric pressure on the disorders' behavior are then outlined.

Guillain-BarrĂŠ Syndrome Support Group - An information site for this disease, and other related disorders. For UK and Ireland.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Fact Sheet - A comprehensive resources guide and fact sheet about this Syndrome, compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Neurology Channel - A description of Guillain-Barre syndrome, also known as Landry's ascending paralysis and acute idiopathic polyneuritis. Includes symptoms, diagnosis, causes and treatment.

Guillain Barre Syndrome - An article describing the illness and links to other useful web sites.

NINDS: Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

All about Guillain-Barre syndrome - Patient diaries, case histories, medical information on GBS.

Guillain BarrĂŠ Syndrome Support Group of Tasmania - A online support group community for sufferers of Guillain BarrĂŠ Syndrome and CIDP.

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Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome on Wikipedia

Overview

External Resources

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