title: Axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: The issue of "axonal" Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) remains controversial. Supportive evidence comes from pathological examination of peripheral nerves in 4 extreme cases of GBS 17-29 days after onset which showed severe axonal degeneration without inflammatory-demyelination. It has been suggested that inflammatory-demyelination may have been missed. This is difficult to disprove but it seems unlikely, given the known correlation between the severity of axonal degeneration and inflammation/demyelination in the experimental model of GBS, experimental allergic neuritis (EAN). Electrically inexcitable nerves in GBS may reflect axonal degeneration, terminal demyelination or both. This finding proved to be a sign of poor prognosis in 19 of 27 (70%) patients, although a good outcome occurred in some cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Feasby
mesh_terms: D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis