Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients describe a fulminant course of symptoms that usually include ascending weakness and non-length dependent sensory symptoms. By definition, the nadir is usually reached within 4 weeks. Symmetric involvement is a key feature of GBS.[6] GBS is usually considered monophasic; therefore, a relapsing or remitting course at presentation would be considered atypical.[26] Additionally, a prior GBS event (recurrent GBS) is also unusual, occurring in < 10% of all patients.[27] If the patient reports progression beyond 8 weeks, other diagnoses should be considered.

GBS often presents (up to 70% of patients) within 1 to 6 weeks of antecedent illness.[28] Other antecedent events that have been linked with GBS include vaccinations (specifically a 1976 strain of swine flu vaccine), surgery, trauma, or other infections. [28][11] 

Classically, patients with GBS will have a pattern of proximal and distal weakness, which is flaccid and often profound if hospitalized. Significant neck flexion weakness may be present and can portend the need for intubation. Areflexia or hyporeflexia is usually present. (Rare cases without hypo/areflexia have been described, mostly in the AMAN variant of GBS).[29] Besides the flaccid weakness and areflexia, patients experience non-length-dependent sensory symptoms; therefore, unlike more common chronic neuropathies such as diabetic neuropathy, patients may report dysesthesias in the hands followed by the feet. Patients can develop facial diplegia due to the involvement of both facial cranial nerves. They can also develop dysphagia due to the involvement of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and hypoglossal cranial nerves.[6] Autonomic nerves can lead to significant morbidity; therefore, most physicians recommend monitoring in an intermediate or intensive care unit for cardiac arrhythmias or blood pressure lability. Dysautonomia is a primary etiology of the morbidity and mortality attributable to GBS. Additionally, the involvement of the lower cranial nerves (glossopharyngeal, vagus, and hypoglossal nerves) or involvement of the nerves to the muscles of respiration may lead to the need for artificial ventilation. Respiratory failure can occur in up to 30% of patients, usually leading to prolonged hospitalization and recovery.[30]

Besides the classic GBS presentation described above, many variants of GBS have been described. There is a variant with pure motor involvement called "AMAN (acute motor axonal neuropathy)" that is more common in Asian countries.[31] Rarely,  these patients can have normal reflexes.[29] There is also a regional variant involving primarily the pharyngeal, neck, and upper extremity muscles called the "pharyngeal-cervical-brachial" variant).[32] Some variants can involve the central nervous system, termed "Bickerstaff Encephalitis."[33] There is also a variant that presents with paraparesis.[34] Arguably, the most famous variant is the Miller Fisher syndrome.[35][36] This is classically described as a triad of ophthalmoplegia, areflexia, and ataxia; however, other cranial nerves besides the oculomotor nerves have been reported in this variant.[36]

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is considered a clinical diagnosis; therefore, a diagnosis can be made with confidence at the bedside in most cases. For atypical cases or unusual subtypes, ancillary testing can be useful.[26]

Electromyography and nerve conduction studies may be helpful in distinguishing GBS from its mimics. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) utilize technology to help distinguish between demyelinating and axonal forms of neuropathy. Needle electromyography may help to determine the acuity of a patient’s symptoms. In some cases, these studies may be helpful in evaluating for other considerations in the differential diagnosis such as neuromuscular junction disorders or diabetic neuropathy. Classically, electrodiagnostic studies should be undertaken at 10 to 14 days after symptom onset due to the time for Wallerian degeneration of sensory and motor nerve fibers; however, there have been many studies that reveal that early, nonspecific findings may be helpful in diagnosing GBS as early as 3 to 7 days after symptom onset.[37][38] 

The more common early electrodiagnostic findings in GBS include absent or prolonged H-reflexes and/or F-wave latencies.[39][38] The sural sparing pattern is considered specific for GBS as compared to other polyneuropathies.[40] This pattern would show an intact sural sensory response with abnormal upper extremity sensory responses. Other findings would depend on the variant of GBS. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy would be more likely to have partial motor conduction block, temporal dispersion, slow conduction velocities, prolonged/absent F-wave latencies, and prolonged distal latencies.[41][31] AMAN would usually show a pattern of low, compound muscle action potential amplitudes or even inexcitable motor nerves; however, partial motor conduction block or complete conduction block can be seen in AMAN nerve conduction study (NCS). This phenomenon is explained by “reversible conduction failure.”[42] Complement is deposited in nodes of Ranvier and paranodal regions on peripheral nerves. Subsequently, the nerves can undergo Wallerian degeneration leading to significant and prolonged axonal damage or can reverse, deemed conduction failure.[43][22] This phenomenon explains the relatively rapid recovery of some severely weak patients with AMAN. Sensory nerves would be spared both clinically and electrodiagnostically in AMAN. Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) would show low amplitude motor and sensory potentials. Miller Fisher syndrome is more often described with reduced or absent sensory nerve action potentials.[44] 

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shows a classic pattern of albuminocytologic dissociation. This term means that spinal fluid shows a normal amount of white blood cells and an elevated CSF protein level.[4][26] However, this pattern is only present in 80% of patients at 2 weeks following symptom onset. Therefore, the absence of this classic finding does not exclude the diagnosis. If the white blood cell count is elevated, this should prompt consideration of other infectious GBS mimics, such as HIV seroconversion.[6] 

A number of ganglioside antibodies have been associated with GBS. Antibodies include anti-GM1, anti-GD1A, anti-GT1A, and anti-GQ1B. These range in sensitivity from up to 60% (anti-GM1 antibodies in acute motor axonal neuropathy) to up to more than 90% (anti-GQ1B antibodies in Miller Fisher syndrome). However, these laboratory studies usually require some time to obtain results and, therefore, may not be as helpful in decision making at the time of patient admission.[45][46][47]

Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spine may show enhancement of the nerve roots, indicating a breakdown of the blood-nerve barrier due to inflammation in GBS. However, MRI utility in GBS is most useful to rule out other etiologies of quadriparesis or facial diplegia such as transverse myelitis or intracranial disease.[48][49]

A negative inspiratory force (NIF) should be performed on patients with suspected GBS.  Serial NIFs should be followed in patients with a high risk of respiratory compromise.  Patients that are unable to perform a NIF of -20 to -30 cm H2O should be considered at very high risk.  

In randomized controlled trials, there are two treatment options currently considered the standard of care in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). These include either intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasma exchange. IVIG is thought to act by its immune-modulating action; however, the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. IVIG is given 2 grams/kilogram divided over 5 days. (Evidence level I)[50]) Plasma exchange is thought to act by removing pathogenic antibodies, humoral mediators, and complement proteins involved in the pathogenesis of GBS. Similar to IVIG, its exact mechanism of action in the treatment of GBS has not been proven. Plasma exchange is generally given as a volume of exchange over five sessions. Plasma exchange and IVIG have been shown to be equally efficacious. (Evidence level I)[51] The effect is present if either treatment is given within 4 weeks, but the stronger effect may be present if treatment is administered within two weeks. (Evidence level II)[52][53][54][52] Surprisingly, corticosteroids (both oral prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone) have not shown benefit over placebo or in combination with IVIG and plasma exchange over either modality alone. Overall, treatment is generally considered to shorten the course of recovery of GBS. Treated patients in one study achieved independent ambulation 32 days faster than untreated patients. (Evidence level I)[55][56][53][51][57][58]

 Overall, most patients with GBS do well, with up to 85% of patients achieving independent ambulation with recovery; however, there is a significant proportion of patients (20%) with morbidity. (Evidence level III) Further studies of plasma exchange followed by IVIG and IVIG concurrent with steroids have not shown significant improvement. (Evidence level I)[59][60] An ongoing trial of 2 courses of IVIG should have results within the next year. (Evidence level III) [61] There are also ongoing trials of complement inhibitors in patients with refractory GBS. (Evidence level II)[62][63][64]

Following the eradication of poliovirus, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute or subacute, flaccid neuromuscular weakness worldwide; however, other disorders may mimic GBS. If the flaccid weakness occurs in a critically ill patient with multiorgan involvement, critical illness neuropathy and myopathy should be considered. Other etiologies that may mimic GBS include tick paralysis. There would be an initial presentation of neuromuscular junction disorder, acute intermittent porphyria, HIV infection, spinal cord disorders, toxic neuropathies and even infections (such as West Nile virus or rabies). Some atypical clinical features should lead providers to consider other diagnoses. These include early bowel and bladder involvement, asymmetric features, and hyperreflexia or normal reflexes.

Distinguishing GBS from its mimics would require a thoughtful evaluation of history, clinical presentation, and ancillary data. Regarding the clinical presentation, the presence of dilated pupils may be more suggestive of tick paralysis or botulism. Ancillary testing such as electromyography and nerve conduction studies may distinguish GBS from critical illness neuropathy/myopathy along with history and clinical context. Cerebrospinal fluid testing showing pleocytosis rather than the classic albuminocytologic dissociation may lead to further consideration of infectious etiologies such as HIV or West Nile Virus infection.

After the acute phase of illness, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients tend to do well. More than 80% achieve independent ambulation after 6 months.[30] Mortality during the acute phase of the illness is less than 5%.[65] However, there is a subset of patients, less than 20%, who continue to have significant disability despite receiving the standard of care for GBS. Studies are underway to try to identify these patients early. Early identification of poor prognostic factors could lead to trials of further treatment specific to this subgroup. In a cohort of Dutch patients, a  prognostic tool, Erasmus GBS Outcome score, utilizes the patient’s physical examination, age, and presence of diarrhea to predict the patient’s ability to walk in the near future.[66] Patients with a significant likelihood of residual disability would be most amenable to further therapeutic trials.

Studies to assess whether plasma exchange followed by IVIG would have an additional benefit were not significant.[60] Additionally, a number of studies regarding the addition of corticosteroids to IVIG were also not significant; however, there may have been a benefit in patients with worse prognostic factors (such as age and GBS disability score).[59] According to a small case series, two courses of IVIG has been suggested as a possible intervention.[67] There may be some limitations of IVIG use based on adverse effects, however.[68] Currently, there is an ongoing randomized controlled trial of 2 courses of IVIG with patients with refractory GBS.[61] Additionally, there is much interest in the key role of complement activation in the pathogenesis of GBS; therefore, a randomized controlled trial of eculizumab in patients with GBS is being studied.[63]

Other clinical features have been shown to predict the need for ventilation during the illness. These include fulminant course (onset to admission < 7 days), bulbar weakness, and neck flexion weakness. These predictive factors would suggest triage to an intensive care unit rather than a stepdown unit.[69]

Following recovery, patients may continue to contend with residual fatigue, pain, and paresthesias for up to several years. (Evidence level III)[70][71]

The most feared complications are respiratory compromise and bulbar palsies.

• Neurology
• Pulmonology/Intensive Care
• +/- Infectious Disease
• +/- Immunology

The care of the patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) requires all members of the healthcare team. Nurses are integral in recognizing and preventing complications, including decubitus ulcers, dysautonomia, and infection prevention. Pharmacists should be well-versed in the adverse effects that may occur with the administration of treatments for GBS, such as IVIG. Respiratory therapists can assist with preventing atelectasis and aspiration pneumonia. Physical and occupational therapists are crucial as the patient begins to regain function and strength. Following recovery, patients often may find it helpful to enlist in support groups available through the GBS foundation.