title: Plasmapheresis and acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. The Guillain-Barré syndrome Study Group.
abstract: We compared plasmapheresis with conventional therapy in 245 patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome of recent onset. Statistically significant differences, favoring the plasmapheresis group, were found in terms of improvement at 4 weeks, time to improve one clinical grade, time to independent walking, and outcome at 6 months. Plasmapheresis was not effective for all patients, but was particularly effective for patients who received this treatment within 7 days of onset and for patients who required mechanical ventilation after entry into the study. Plasmapheresis appears to be of benefit in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome of recent onset.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000009:adverse effects; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors