Related Experiment Videos
Autonomic dysfunction in Guillain-Barré syndrome
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|November 1, 1981
Summary
Guillain-Barré syndrome significantly impacts autonomic nervous system function, causing issues like abnormal heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating. These autonomic dysfunctions in Guillain-Barré syndrome patients are widespread but not linked to motor or sensory deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Autonomic Neuroscience
Background:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system.
- Autonomic dysfunction is a recognized but not fully understood complication of GBS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively assess autonomic nervous system function in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
- To correlate autonomic abnormalities with clinical severity in GBS.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated heart rate and blood pressure responses to postural changes.
- Measured baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate response during Valsalva's maneuver.
- Assessed sudomotor function using sweat tests.
Main Results:
- Postural hypotension observed in 3/7 patients; fixed tachycardia in 2/7.
- Abnormal baroreflex sensitivity in 4/7 patients; impaired Valsalva response in 2/3.
- Anhidrosis (lack of sweating) present in all 7 patients.
Conclusions:
- Patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome exhibit widespread autonomic nervous system dysfunction affecting sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways.
- The severity of autonomic involvement in GBS does not correlate with the degree of motor or sensory impairment.
- Patchy lesions in the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems likely explain the observed autonomic abnormalities in GBS.