GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME AND CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI INFECTION - A STUDY ON THE ETIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME IN CHINA

Fecal culture for Campylobacter jejuni with the method of Skirrow and serum class specific antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA) against Campylobacter jejuni using a solid phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were perf ormed in 17 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, 17 other neurological di sease controls, and 33 normal controls. The results revealed: 1. the i ncidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection, especially the recent one in Guillain-Barre Syndrome was much higher than in the other two group s; 2. the recent incidence of infection in those below 30 years old an d those within the period of summer and autumn was higher than that ab ove 30 years old and that in the other seasons. The results suggeted t hat Campylobacter jejuni infection might be one of the important preci pitating factors of Guillain-Barre syndrome and might play an importan t role in the epidemiological pattern of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in Ch ina.