Guillain-Barré syndrome in Eastern China: A study of 595 patients

This study aimed to investigate geographical differences in the clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) between patients from our region in Eastern China and patients from other areas.

A total of 595 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria ​for GBS or its variants were included from two large hospitals located in Eastern China. Data collection included demographics, antecedent events, clinical presentation and signs, electrophysiological subtypes, treatment, complications during hospitalization, clinical severity at nadir, and outcome at 12 months, and these data were compared to data from a study conducted in Southern China and the Europe/Americas section of the International GBS Outcome Study.

The median (interquartile range) age of patients was 50 (36-61) years, the ratio of men to women was 1.2, and 49% of patients had antecedent events. Patients in our region of Eastern China had pure motor predominant GBS (158/340, 46%) and 30% (103/340) had complications during hospitalization. Patients aged over 60 years had a lower frequency of antecedent infections and single, axonal subtypes, but higher disability scores at entry, nadir, and 12 months. When compared with the Europe/Americas data, our patients had a lower frequency of antecedent infection (46% vs. 63%), cranial nerve involvement (43% vs. 49%), sensory deficits (45% vs. 69%), pain (19% vs. 57%) and mechanical ventilation (11% vs. 17%), but a higher frequency of axonal subtype (35% vs. 6%). There was a higher frequency of patients with antecedent gastroenteritis (16% vs. 8%), mechanical ventilation (11% vs. 8%) and axonal subtypes (35% vs. 19%) in our region in Eastern China than in Southern China.

Patients with GBS in Eastern China showed significant clinical heterogeneity and differences when compared to other geographic areas.