title: Diagnostic value of lumbar root stimulation at the early stage of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate diagnostic value of electrical lumbar root stimulation (RS) at the laminar level in the early stage of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (30 sides) and nine controls (17 sides) were included in the study. Conventional nerve conduction studies, needle electromyography, F responses and electrical lumbar RS were obtained from both groups. The needle electrical stimulation was performed at the L2-3 intervertebral level. Vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and soleus muscles were investigated bilaterally and simultaneously in the first and fourth weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, the amplitudes elicited by lumbar RS were significantly attenuated while the conventional electrophysiological findings were normal and/or not diagnostic in 6 of 15 patients (40%) within the first week. Motor latencies by the lumbar RS were prolonged in the patients, compared to the controls, but the results were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M-responses elicited by lumbar RS appear to be helpful in disclosing proximal conduction abnormalities of GBS early in the course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lumbar RS seems to be a useful method in making the diagnosis of GBS early and there is no considerable side effect of this particular method.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, Izmir, Turkey. tkurt2@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurt Incesu
authors.forename: Yaprak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Secil
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tokucoglu
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gurgor
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Özdemirkiran
authors.forename: Galip
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akhan
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ertekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult