The natural history of the Guillain-Barré syndrome in 18 children and 50 adults.
Plasma exchange (PE) is indicated in adult patients with a severe Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). For children this has not been proven. If the disease runs a milder course in children, the problems experienced with PE might outweight the benefit. In order to evaluate the need for such a specific treatment in children, we compared the severity of the disease between 18 children and 50 adults; no significant differences were found. The mean duration of hospitalisation of all children was 84 days, four children needed artificial ventilation for a mean of 21.5 days and two children died. We conclude therefore that PE is indicated in children with a severe GBS. The final decision, however, depends also on the practical feasibility of the procedure.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
R P
RP
Kleyweg
F G
FG
van der Meché
M C
MC
Loonen
J
J
de Jonge
B
B
Knip
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies