title: Clinical and epidemiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Western Balkans.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in a large cohort of patients from three Western Balkans countries. Data from adult Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases from 2009 to 2013 were retrospectively obtained from all tertiary health care centers. During the 5-year period, 327 new cases of GBS were identified with a male to female ratio of 1.7 : 1. The most common GBS variants were demyelinating (65%) and axonal (12%). At nadir 45% of patients were chair-bound, confined to bed, or required assisted ventilation, while 5% died. The crude incidence of GBS in Serbia and Montenegro was 0.93 per 100,000 population, and age-adjusted incidence according to the world standard population was 0.86 per 100,000. Incidence was particularly high in 50- to 80-year-old men. Statistically significant seasonal variations of GBS were not observed. This study of patients with GBS in the Western Balkans allows us to prepare the health system better and to improve the management of patients. This study also opens opportunities for international collaboration and for taking part in the multinational studies on GBS.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Stojan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peric
authors.forename: Vuk
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berisavac
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stojiljkovic
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beslac-Bumbasirevic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marjanovic
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajic
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cvijanovic
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominovic
authors.forename: Balsa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vujovic
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cukic
authors.forename: Milutin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toncev
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komatina
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martic
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lavrnic
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D063368:Balkan Peninsula / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Balkans; Guillain-Barré syndrome; incidence; preceding infection; seasonal variations