The Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Abstract

Electrodiagnostic studies were performed at the time of peak neurological deficit in 26 episodes of the Guillain-Barré syndrome, and at intervals before and after this time in 13 cases. Of the patients 65.4% had made a complete clinical recovery at the termination of the study. The shortest recovery time from the onset of symptoms was four weeks and the longest was 34 weeks. A rapid recovery was associated with an acute progression of neurological deficit in the face of normal electrophysiologic study results throughout the illness (19.2%). Patients requiring the longest time to recover demonstrated various electromyographic abnormalities, but, in particular, all showed evidence of denervation (fibrillation, positive sharp waves, or both).