Q. Cheng et al., Clinical epidemiology of Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults in Sweden 1996-97: a prospective study, EUR J NEUR, 7(6), 2000, pp. 685-692
We described clinical manifestations, outcomes, prognostic indicators and c
linico-epidemiological subgroups for 53 adult patients with Guillain-Barre
syndrome (GBS) in Sweden during the period 1996-97. These patients were ide
ntified from a population of 2.8 million inhabitants and prospectively foll
owed up for one year by a network of neurologists. An additional 10 cases,
of whom five were adults who had not been prospectively followed up, were n
ot included in the analyses. At 6 months after onset 80% of the patients co
uld walk without aid, while at 1 year 46% were fully recovered, 42% had mil
d residual signs or symptoms, 4% had moderate and 6% severe disabilities, a
nd 2% had died. Intravenous human immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis were use
d in 72% of the patients. The sum of the Medical Research Council (MRC) sco
re at nadir was found as the only significant predictor for residual signs
at 1 year in a multivariate model. Three subgroups, with different clinico-
epidemiological characteristics, were identified by using cluster analysis.
In conclusion, GBS in Sweden is frequently preceded by a respiratory infec
tion, is often treated with immunomodulatory therapies, and exhibits a high
recovery rate and a low fatality rate.