title: Clinical epidemiology of Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults in Sweden 1996-97: a prospective study.
abstract: We described clinical manifestations, outcomes, prognostic indicators and clinico-epidemiological subgroups for 53 adult patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in Sweden during the period 1996-97. These patients were identified from a population of 2.8 million inhabitants and prospectively followed up for one year by a network of neurologists. An additional 10 cases, of whom five were adults who had not been prospectively followed up, were not included in the analyses. At 6 months after onset 80% of the patients could walk without aid, while at 1 year 46% were fully recovered, 42% had mild residual signs or symptoms, 4% had moderate and 6% severe disabilities, and 2% had died. Intravenous human immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis were used in 72% of the patients. The sum of the Medical Research Council (MRC) score at nadir was found as the only significant predictor for residual signs at 1 year in a multivariate model. Three subgroups, with different clinico-epidemiological characteristics, were identified by using cluster analysis. In conclusion, GBS in Sweden is frequently preceded by a respiratory infection, is often treated with immunomodulatory therapies, and exhibits a high recovery rate and a low fatality rate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Qi.Cheng@neurotec.ki.se
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: G X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ekstedt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrethem
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Liedholm
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindsten
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brattström
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fredrikson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Pedro-Cuesta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking