title: Intravenous immunoglobulin vs plasma exchange in treatment of mechanically ventilated adults with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study is to compare efficacy of IvIg versus PE in treatment of mechanically ventilation adults with GBS in intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a prospective, non randomized study, realized in a medical ICU from 2006 to 2010. We included all patients with GBS who required mechanical ventilation (MV). We defined two groups: group 1 (group treated by IvIg: 0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days) and group 2 (group treated by PE: 4 PE during 10-14 days). We collected demographic characteristics, clinical and therapeutic aspects and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The quantitative variables are expressed on mean ± standard derivation and compared by Student test. The statistic analysis has been based on SPSS for windows. P<0.05 is considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one patients (21 in group 1 and 20 in group 2) were enrolled. The mean age was 37.4±9.2 years, with a masculine predominance (75.4%). Electromyogram in all patients found acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in 80.5% of patients. The mean length of hospitalization was 45.3±9.2 days. The length of hospitalization of the IvIg group is less long than PE group (p=0.03). The weaning of the MV was more precocious in IvIg group than PE group (p=0.01). Also, the beginning of motility recuperation was precocious at IvIg group than PE group (p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work reveals a meaningful difference for the MV weaning and precocious recovery in IvIg group compared to PE group.
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Boubaker
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charra
authors.affiliation: Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacology, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hachimi
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benslama
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motaouakkil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: Guillain Barré syndrome; intensive care unit; intravenous immunoglobulin; mechanical ventilation; plasma exchange; recovery