title: Clinical and serological studies in a series of 45 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical files of 45 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients admitted to our Department between 1979 and 1989. The age distribution was bimodal with a first peak in young adults (20-40 years), and a second one between 60 to 70 years. Seasonal distribution showed a late fall and a hivernal predominance. Three patients experienced a second attack of GBS 2-9 years after the first one. Thirty-one (69%) presented antecedent events, most often a respiratory tract infection (n = 20) or enteritis (n = 6). Serological studies were systematically performed, including antibody titers against herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory syncytial virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Campylobacter jejuni/coli and cardiolipin. These studies showed the presence of antibodies indicative of a CMV primary infection in 22% cases and of a Campylobacter jejuni/coli infection in 13%. Co-infection was observed in 3 cases. Serology remained negative in 12 patients with a preceding respiratory infection. There was no correlation between serology and the severity of the disease. Absence of antecedent events and of positive anti-infectious serology was observed in only 10 patients.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Saint Luc Hospital, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boucquey
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sindic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delmée
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Laterre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000276:immunology; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D002308:Cardiolipins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M