GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME IN SOUTH-WEST STOCKHOLM, 1973-1991, .2. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

The clinicoepidemiological features of Guillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS) were studied using population-based information from medical records o f 69 patients in South-West Stockholm, during the period from January 1973 to June 1992. The diagnoses were validated according to the Natio nal Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke c riteria. Mean age at onset was 43+/-20 years. For 46 patients, events during the 30-day period preceding clinical onset, 74% of them identif ied as respiratory infections, were recorded. The presence of precedin g events was associated with male gender. A more rapid clinical progre ssion was found among women. A CSF/serum albumin ratio greater than or equal to 10, denervation potentials and mechanical ventilation requir ed were associated with poor recovery or long duration of hospitalizat ion. Reduced motor conduction velocity was more common and pronounced among older patients and with a high CSF/serum albumin ratio. These re sults suggest that there is clinical, electrophysiological and epidemi ological heterogeneity in GBS, and that clinicoepidemiological subgrou ps of GBS may exist.