title: Guillain-Barré syndrome: a retrospective, hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To obtain more information about Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) for Taiwanese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the charts for those cases conforming with International Classification of Diseases code (ICD) 357.0, from January 1988 to December 1998. Clinical data such as age, sex, duration of hospitalization, antecedent events, date of onset, initial symptoms, other neurological symptoms and signs, results of lumbar puncture and electrophysiology, respiratory function and mortality, were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 49 cases of typical GBS, with non-specific age distribution. The calibrated male/female ratio was 1.54. The mean age for disease onset was greater for male patients (M: 54.8 years vs. F: 39.5 years), with more cases noted in winter. Upper respiratory tract infection (URI, 53%) was the most common antecedent event, followed, in descending order, by gastrointestinal symptoms (10%), skin lesions (6%) and ear infections (2%). The mean interval between antecedent events and disease onset was 10 +/- 3.1 days. Cranial nerve abnormalities, autonomic dysfunction and respiratory failure were not uncommon. The mortality rate was 6% (3/49). The abnormal findings from motor nerve conduction studies included prolonged distal latencies, reduced conduction velocities, reduced compound muscle action potentials and prolonged F-wave latencies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GBS occurs at all ages, is more prevalent among males, and is related to the season and antecedent infections. Continuous monitoring of autonomic and respiratory function is recommended. The results of motor nerve conduction studies suggest that the nerves fibers are affected at random, with multifocal distribution of the demyelinating lesions. The precise nature of the ataxia was not determined. Further studies are required to distinguish the etiology and expression of ataxia for GBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hai-Kuang
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: Yuh-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ching-Piao
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies