Guillain-Barre syndrome in children and adolescents--a retrospective analysis

In this study, 55 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in children and adolescents of 2-18 years of age were analysed retrospectively to study the clinical profile and to evaluate the prognostic value of reduced compound muscle action potential (CMAP) on the need for ventilation and functional outcome. Of the 28 boys and 27 girls 87.3% were bed-bound at peak deficit. Other features were as follows: Bifacial weakness-75%, bulbar weakness-56.4%, need for assisted ventilation-41.8% and albuminocytological dissociation-65.9%. In the ventilated and non-ventilated group no difference was noted in the incidence of reduced CMAP amplitude (p-value > 0.5). At 3 months 83.3% and at 6 months 80.8% cases were ambulant with support. Reduced CMAP amplitude of less than 20% of the lower limit of the normal in at least 2 nerves did not predict the need for ventilation or the chance of independent walking at 3 or 6 months.