[Chronic Guillain-Barré syndrome (diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities)]

The authors survey the clinical features and therapeutic results of their patients with chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy. There was an antecedent virus infection in the case history of 5 out of 7 patients. In one patient the chronic polyneuritis developed in association with previously verified SLE, in an other one the autopsy has proved giant lymphadenopathy. The symptoms and signs have evolved slowly in 6 patients, one patient relapsed in 4 months after the first acute attack. The initial and main symptom was the hypotonic muscle weakness of lower extremities. All of the patients mentioned paresthesias and on the lower extremities of 4 patients even hypesthesias of distal type might be revealed. The tendon reflexes were always very slow or absent. In the CSF the classical changes, excess of protein content with normal cell count were found. The electroneurography has shown increased distal latencies and reduced motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities. The steroid treatment and in 2 patients the plasmapheresis were successful, however the recovery was always incomplete and residual disabilities persisted. The electrophysiological and CSF findings did not change parallel with the relief of clinical symptoms and signs.