title: Guillain Barré syndrome--Incidence and clinical course in Southern Rogaland, Norway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the incidence and clinical course of Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) in a well-defined geographical area.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients older than 16 years of age diagnosed with GBS were prospectively invited to join a follow-up study for two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were diagnosed with GBS; an incidence rate of 2.28/100,000 in 2006/2007, and 3.19/100,000 in 2007/2008 with an equal gender distribution. Eleven patients accepted follow up, and more than 50% had milder forms of GBS with preserved walking ability and a Hughes score ≤ 2. None required assisted ventilation in this period, and only one patient had a MRC score <40. Three patients were simultaneously diagnosed with SIADH. Nine patients received IvIg treatment and clinical improvement measured by MRC and INCAT was seen during the first three months, but the patients subjective perceptions of health and symptoms measured using VAS, FSS, and SF-36 were reduced the first 12 months after diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence of GBS in a well-defined area varied between 2.28-3.19/100 000, and more than 50% of patients were mildly affected. Despite a good clinical recovery after three months and subsequent improvement on self-assessed health items, patients with GBS rated their health lower than expected after one year.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Group, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: elfa@sus.no.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farbu
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Group, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway; Department of Neurology, Stadtspital Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Group, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Sigurbjørg
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefansdottir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Guillain Barre Syndrome; Incidence; Outcome; SF-36