Evolving pattern of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a community hospital in Israel.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of axonal Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in our ward over 6 years (1999-2005).


METHODS
Clinical and electrophysiological findings of 40 patients admitted to neurology with abnormalities compatible with acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) were reviewed.


RESULTS
Electrophysiological findings showed that 25 (63%) patients had AIDP, nine (22%) AMAN and six (15%) AMSAN. There were significant differences in disease severity. Most axonal patients (87%) were hospitalized with moderate or severe symptoms (3-4 Hughes grade score) and progressed to severe grade (4-6) in comparison with AIDP patients (64% admitted with mild forms) (1-2 Hughes grade score) and progressed to severe in 44% of cases. Cranial nerve involvement was more frequent in AIDP (56%) in comparison with the axonal type (13%). Raised cerebrospinal fluid protein at the time of hospitalization was observed in 76% of demyelinating and 33% of axonal patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Axonal GBS occurred more frequently in Israel compared with other Western countries.
Kushnir
M
M
Department of Neurology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. fredricag@asaf.health.gov.il
Klein
C
C
Pollak
L
L
Rabey
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies