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Impairment in Guillain-Barré syndrome during the first 2 years after onset: a prospective study
Anette Forsberg1, Rayomand Press, Ulrika Einarsson
1Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Orebro, Sweden. anette.forsberg@orebroll.se
Objectives:
To provide a comprehensive description of impairment in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in Sweden during the first 2 years after disease onset.
Methods:
In this prospective multi-centre study, 42 patients, mean age 52 years, were evaluated at 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Evaluations made use of validated, reliable measures of muscle strength, grip strength, finger dexterity, balance, facial-muscle function, respiratory function, gait, motor performance and sensory examination, and included patients' own assessments of pain, fatigue and paraesthesia.
Results:
Mechanical ventilation was required in 21% of patients. At 2 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after GBS onset: 100%, 62% and 55% of patients had submaximal overall muscle strength; 98%, 38% and 31% subnormal grip strength; and 38%, 14% and 12% affected facial-muscle function. At the same time points, 62%, 10% and 7% of patients were unable to walk 10 m independently; and affected sensation was detected in 93%, 55% and 52%.
Conclusions:
Recovery occurred mainly during the first year after onset. At 2 years, motor impairment and sensory impairment were each still detectable in more than 50% of patients. We conclude that residual impairment is significant, somatically widespread and, likely, persistent.
