In this study, we determined the relationship between Guillain-Barre s
yndrome (GBS) and pregnancy. By taking advantage of several nationwide
registers and the availability of personal identification numbers, we
calculated person-years for Swedish females aged 15-49 years in the f
ollowing categories: (1) neither pregnant nor postpartum; (2) pregnant
; (3) in the first month postpartum, or (4) in the first 3 months post
partum during 1973-1983. For these women, we determined the correspond
ing exposure status of hospital-registered GBS cases. Medical records
were examined for GBS cases hospitalized during the 2-week period post
partum and 1-month period after the last menstruation. Poisson regress
ion analysis yielded age-adjusted relative risks (RRs) of 0.86 (95% CI
0.40-1.84) for pregnant women, and 1.47 (0.54-3.99) and 2.21 (0.55-8.
94) for females during the 3-month and the 30-day period after deliver
y. The risk for GBS seems to be lower during pregnancy and increases a
fter delivery.