Prevalence of autonomic dysfunction in hospitalized patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

There is a paucity of data regarding autonomic dysfunction (AD) in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Concern exists regarding inpatient mortality risk in GBS. We sought to identify the prevalence of AD in GBS inpatients.

We used the Health Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). GBS hospitalizations were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code-357.0. Non-GBS hospitalizations were matched to these cases 4:1 by age and gender.

We identified 2,587 GBS patients and a control population of 10,348 patients during 2010-2011. The most common manifestations of AD were: diarrhea/constipation (15.5%), hyponatremia (14.9%), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) (4.8%), bradycardia (4.7%), and urinary retention (3.9%). GBS patients had higher rates of reversible cardiomyopathy, syncope, tachycardia, and Horner syndrome (P < 0.0001).

AD most commonly manifests as diarrhea/constipation, SIADH/hyponatremia, and cardiac dysfunction. This report can help increase awareness of AD in GBS and aid in early identification, treatment, and mortality reduction. Muscle Nerve 56: 331-333, 2017.