Prevalence of bladder dysfunction, urodynamic findings, and their correlation with outcome in Guillain-Barre syndrome

The micturitional disturbances and related urodynamic studies are infrequently reported in Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS). In the present study, we evaluated patients of GBS for bladder dysfunction and urodynamic abnormalities. We also tried to assess relation between urodynamic findings with disability in patients diagnosed as GBS.

In this study, 38 patients of GBS were assessed for micturitional disturbances and disability using Hughes motor grade, Overall Disability Sum Score (ODSS), Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score. Urodynamic studies were carried out at baseline and at 2 months.

Out of 38 patients, 10 patients had urinary symptoms, 23 patients had urodynamic abnormalities and most common being detrusor underactivity in 15 patients. Other findings were detrusor sphincter dyssynergia in six patients, acontractile bladder in five patients, and detrusor overactivity in three patients. Decreased uroflow rates were seen in 14 patients. Severe disability in the form of Hughes motor grades 4-5, ODSS leg scores 4-7, low MRC scores were significantly more common in patients with urodynamic abnormalities. The axonal variant of GBS patients demonstrated more frequent abnormal urodynamic findings.

Our study revealed fair incidence of micturitional disturbances and urodynamic dysfuctions in GBS. The subclinical bladder involvement was frequently observed, substantiated by urodynamic assessment. The disability, particularly of lower limbs had positive correlation with urodynamic abnormality.