Long-term sensory deficit after Guillain-Barré syndrome

In order to document the sensory deficit still present several years after onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and to determine if the sensory residua have a disrupting effect on daily life, 122 patients were asked to cooperate in a neurological examination and to complete a questionnaire three to six years after onset. On functional assessment 84 patients had no or only minor neurological symptoms or signs, 24 patients showed moderate recovery and 14 patients were left with severe residual signs. On neurological examination, residual sensory deficit was found in the arms of 38 % of the patients and in the legs of 66 % of the patients. Sensory disturbance was experienced as moderate to severe in the arms of 27 % of the patients and in the legs of 40 % of the patients. Muscle aches and cramps were still present in 48 %. There was a statistically significant relation between muscle aches and cramps and objective residual sensory deficit but not with residual weakness. Furthermore, in the group of patients with a pure motor GBS, significantly fewer people suffered from muscle aches and cramps than in the remaining patients (p=0.04). Twenty-five percent of patients changed jobs after their illness, and 44% gave up some leisure activities. It can be concluded that many patients still suffer from sensory deficit, and a considerable number experience these as moderately to seriously disruptive, especially in the legs. Muscle aches and cramps seems to be related to sensory rather than motor dysfunction.