Clinical characteristics of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Shenzhen: a retrospective study

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a group of immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies that causes acute flaccid paralysis. The global incidence of GBS was 0.6-4/100 000, and the incidence in China was 0.698/100 000. Although the diagnosis and treatment of GBS has made rapid progress, approximately 20% of patients with GBS are still unable to walk alone within 6 months after the onset of GBS, and 40% of patients have sequelae, such as weakened strength, limb pain, and numbness, seriously affecting their life and work. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with GBS in Shenzhen, China and analyze the factors affecting disease severity to provide a reference for the precise treatment of GBS.

Clinical data of inpatients diagnosed with GBS in several hospitals in Shenzhen from April 2010 to October 2021 were obtained from an electronic medical record system (HIS system). The clinical characteristics of patients with GBS and the factors affecting disease severity were analyzed.

A total of 146 patients were identified for this study, and 13 were lost during follow-up. During the follow-up period, three patients had acute-onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (A-CIDP). One hundred and thirty patients with complete data, comprising 90 males (69.23%) and 40 females (30.77%) with a median age of 39.50 ± 23.75 years, were included in the statistical analyses. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) was the most common electrophysiological variant (106 cases [81.54%]). Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) were noted in 21 (16.15%), 2 (1.54%), and 1 (0.77%) patients, respectively. The clinical course of the disease was mainly mild in 95 cases (73.08%), while 35 patients (26.92%) experienced severe disease. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years old and having pneumonia may be associated with the severity of the disease.

AIDP is the most common electrophysiological variant of GBS in Shenzhen. Most cases of GBS in our setting are mild, and the long-term prognosis is favorable. Old age (≥ 60 years) and having pneumonia are independent risk factors for severe GBS.