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Archive for the ‘Guillain-Barre Syndrome’ Category

There is no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, there are many treatments available to reduce symptoms, treat complications and speed recovery.

When symptoms are severe, the patient will need to go to hospital for breathing help, treatment and physiotherapy.

A method called plasmapheresis is used to remove proteins called antibodies in the blood. The process involves drawing blood from the body, usually the arm, pump it to a machine that removes the antibodies, then send it back to the body.

Therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is another treatment used to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome. In this case, the immunoglobulins are added to the blood in large amounts, blocking antibodies that cause inflammation. Read the rest of this entry »

The background of increasing muscle weakness and paralysis may be signs of Guillain-Barre syndrome, especially if there was a recent illness.

A medical exam may show muscle weakness and problems with involuntary body functions (autonomic), as blood pressure and heart rate. The test may also show that reflexes, such as “knee jerk” are decreased or absent.

There may be signs of decreased breathing capacity, caused by paralysis of respiratory muscles.

You can order the following tests:

* Lists of cerebrospinal fluid (spinal fluid) which may have increased levels of protein without an increase in white blood cells.
* ECG may show heart problems in some cases.
* EMG tests the electrical activity in muscles and can show that the nerves do not react properly to stimulation.
* Nerve conduction velocity shows that electrical activity along the nerves is slowed or blocked.

Symptoms of Guillain-Barre get worse very quickly. It may take only a few hours to more severe symptoms, but the increasing weakness for several days is common.

Muscle weakness or loss of muscle function (paralysis) affects both sides. In most cases, the muscle weakness starts in the legs and then spreads to the arms. This is called ascending paralysis.

Patients may notice tingling, pain in the leg or hand and clumsiness. If the inflammation affects the nerves to the diaphragm and there is weakness in these muscles, you may need breathing assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

Is a serious disorder that occurs when the body’s defense system (immune system) attacks the nervous system by mistake. This leads to nerve inflammation, which causes muscular weakness.

Causes

Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder (the body’s own immune system attacking itself) and it is unknown exactly what triggers. The syndrome may occur at any age but is most common in people of both sexes between the ages of 30 and 50.

Often follows a minor infection, usually a respiratory infection or gastrointestinal infection. The signs of the original infection have disappeared before the onset of symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Guillain-Barre syndrome causes inflammation that damages parts of nerves. This nerve damage causes tingling, muscle weakness and paralysis. The inflammation usually affects the nerve’s covering (myelin sheath). This damage is called demyelization and reduces the transmission of nerve signals. Damage to other parts of the nerve can cause the nerve to stop working.

Guillain-Barre syndrome may occur along with viral infections such as.

* AIDS
* Herpes Simplex
* Mononucleosis

It may also occur with other medical conditions such as lupus erythematosus or Hodgkin’s disease.

Some people may develop this syndrome after suffering a bacterial infection or receive certain vaccines (such as rabies and swine flu). A similar syndrome can occur after surgery or when a patient is in critical condition.