Impairment in Guillain-Barré syndrome during the first 2 years after onset: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a comprehensive description of impairment in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in Sweden during the first 2 years after disease onset.


METHODS
In this prospective multi-centre study, 42 patients, mean age 52 years, were evaluated at 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Evaluations made use of validated, reliable measures of muscle strength, grip strength, finger dexterity, balance, facial-muscle function, respiratory function, gait, motor performance and sensory examination, and included patients' own assessments of pain, fatigue and paraesthesia.


RESULTS
Mechanical ventilation was required in 21% of patients. At 2 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after GBS onset: 100%, 62% and 55% of patients had submaximal overall muscle strength; 98%, 38% and 31% subnormal grip strength; and 38%, 14% and 12% affected facial-muscle function. At the same time points, 62%, 10% and 7% of patients were unable to walk 10 m independently; and affected sensation was detected in 93%, 55% and 52%.


CONCLUSIONS
Recovery occurred mainly during the first year after onset. At 2 years, motor impairment and sensory impairment were each still detectable in more than 50% of patients. We conclude that residual impairment is significant, somatically widespread and, likely, persistent.
Forsberg
Anette
A
Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Orebro, Sweden. anette.forsberg@orebroll.se
Press
Rayomand
R
Einarsson
Ulrika
U
de Pedro-Cuesta
Jésus
J
Widén Holmqvist
Lotta
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors