Guillain-Barré syndrome in Chinese children: a retrospective analysis

We reviewed the clinical and electrophysiologic features of 293 children with Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2000 and 2009. The male/female ratio was 2.02, and the syndrome occurred most frequently in those between 1 and 4 years of age. There was no seasonal variation. A total of 46.1% patients had experienced an infection 1 to 4 weeks before the onset of the syndrome. The main subtype was acute motor axonal neuropathy (50.0%), with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (38.1%) ranked as second in frequency. The mean motor disability score at nadir was 3.36 ± 1.00 for all patients, with mild variations among the different subgroups. No significant difference was found in age, seasonal occurrence, cerebrospinal fluid abnormality, and functional status at nadir between the acute motor axonal neuropathy and the acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy groups. A total of 36.5% patients had sensory symptoms at admission. Approximately 9.5% of patients required mechanical ventilation. Typical cytoalbuminologic dissociation at cerebrospinal fluid examination was demonstrated in 88.0% of those who underwent lumbar puncture.