Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute neuromuscular paralysis characterized by rapidly progressive, symmetric progressive weakness, ascending pattern, and areflexia. Cranial nerve involvement and need of respiratory support are other features of GBS. In about 50–70% of patients, prodromal gastrointestinal or respiratory illness was due to Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, mycoplasma pneumonia, hepatitis, varicella, and other herpes viruses. GBS can be classified into different variants: acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), and acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). Rare variants are paraparetic variant, acute dysautonomia, acute ataxic neuropathy, pharyngeal–cervical–brachial variant, multiple cranial neuropathy, and facial diplegia.