title: Guillain-Barré syndrome in the elderly.
abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze specific features of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in old people. The study included 403 GBS patients (62% young [<60 years], 35% young-old [60-80 years], and 3% old-old [>80 years]). Diagnosis of GBS was made according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS criteria). Severe disability (GBS disability score of >3) at nadir was more common in old compared with young patients (p = 0.0001) as was mortality (9% vs. 2%, respectively). Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy and hyponatremia were more common in old compared with young patients (12% vs. 6% and 27% vs. 18%, respectively, p = 0.04). A positive history for malignancy was more than three times more common in old than young patients (11% vs. 3%, respectively, p = 0.01). Disability on nadir was similar in young-old and old-old subjects with disability on discharge being more severe in old-old (p = 0.04) suggesting slower recovery in this subgroup. Bulbar symptoms were more common in old-old compared with young-old (50% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.01). Comorbidities were present in virtually all old-old patients compared with 66% of young-old patients (p = 0.04). In conclusion, Elderly patients, and especially old-old patients, with GBS have more severe disease with slower recovery than do younger patients.
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.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berisavac
authors.affiliation: Society of Young Serbian Neurologists, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stojiljkovic Tamas
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajic
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babic
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cvijanovic
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominovic-Kovacevic
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beslac-Bumbasirevic
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lavrnic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome; diagnosis; disability; elderly; therapy