[Peripheral autonomic insufficiency in the Guillain-Barré syndrome]

Overall 11 patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy or Guillain-Barre syndrome were examined for the status of the peripheral part of the autonomic nervous system. Methods used in the study permit estimating the status of vegetative fibers in different systems: in the cardiovascular system, in the pupil, and in sweat glands. Part of the patients were examined over time for all the vegetative and electroneuromyographic characteristics. Based on the data obtained the conclusion is made about a slow recovery of the function of vegetative fibers in the cardiovascular system. It is emphasized that the degree of vegetative fibers injury and, therefore, the gravity of the clinical manifestations and the course of vegetative polyneuropathy are determined in many respects by the degree of axon impairment.