title: Plasma exchange and i.v.-immunoglobulins: new approaches to the treatment of Guillain-Barre' syndrome.
abstract: We report the results obtained with plasma exchange (PE) in 26 patients (18 males, 8 females) with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) of maximal severity and also the results with IVGG in 7 patients (3 males, 4 females) where PE could not be employed. A complete clinical and neurophysiological evaluation was carried out. A follow-up was effected at regular intervals for a year. From this study the efficacy of PE in GBS was confirmed and a correlation was found between the amplitude of the muscular potential registered in the acute phase and the prognosis of the illness. PE is not effective for patients with a fulminant course and blocking of conduction. Good results have been obtained with IVGG therapy, which seems to be safe and effective whenever PE is not possible.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale A. Cardarelli, Napoli.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fasanaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pizza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous