title: Intravenous immunoglobulins in severe Guillian-Barre syndrome in childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a retrospective analysis of 25 children with severe Guillain-Barre syndrome admitted to our PICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in a dose of 2 g/kg body weight over 2-5 days in addition to supportive and respiratory care. Seventeen children were elective admissions to the PICU whereas 8 children were transferred from other hospitals in a critical condition. Five of 8 of the late referrals died as compared to none of the elective admissions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 8 of the late referrals required mechanical ventilation as against 3 of the 17 elective admissions. Mean duration of PICU stay in the late referrals was 27 days as compared to 15 days in the elective admissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors concur with previously published reports, that early use of IVIG could reduce the mortality and the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, India. pshanbag@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shanbag
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amirtharaj
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous