Sensory Guillain–Barré syndrome

Abstract

Article abstract-Objective: To report eight cases of sensory Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Background: The concept of sensory equivalent to ascending paralysis of GBS was raised in 1958, and the diagnostic criteria for a sensory loss and areflexia variant of GBS were proposed in 1981. However, clinical cases meeting these criteria have been relatively scarce. Methods: During a 13-year period between 1986 and 1999, the authors collected eight cases of an acute sensory demyelinating neuropathy that met most of the proposed diagnostic criteria of a sensory variant of GBS. Results: In all patients, sensory neuropathy was sudden at onset and peaked to maximal deficit within 4 weeks. In five (63%) cases, there was an antecedent viral illness. All patients had objective sensory loss and diminished or absent reflexes. None showed any muscle weakness. In all four patients in whom the spinal fluid was examined during the first 4 weeks, there was albuminocytologic dissociation. All of the patients had electrophysiologic evidence of demyelination in at least two nerves. Demyelination was demonstrated in motor nerve conduction in seven patients and in sensory nerve conduction in one, indicating that motor nerve conduction studies were the key for the diagnosis of demyelinating neuropathy. All patients had sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in at least one nerve. Three patients responded to immunotherapies. All had a favorable outcome, with a monophasic course of disease and no sign of relapse. Conclusion: The current study confirms the existence of sensory GBS.

Transient Deafness in Young Candidates for Cochlear Implants

“…Oh et al [2001] described patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with strong evidence of dysmyelination affecting motor and sensory nerve fibers. The underlying pathological process was attributed to an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.…”

Características epidemiológicas del síndrome de Guillain-Barré en población chilena: estudio hospitalario en un período de 7 años

“…Los pacientes fueron clasificados en las distintas variantes de SGB en base a los criterios clínicos y electrofisiológicos aceptados en la literatura 8,9 . Para la determinación de la severidad del cuadro clínico se utilizó la escala de discapacidad de Hughes 11 .…”

“…El SGB afecta a todos los grupos etarios, pero es infrecuente en la infancia, y es una de las pocas enfermedades autoinmunes que afecta con mayor frecuencia a hombres 6 . Desde la descripción realizada por Guillain, Barré y Strohl 7 , se han descrito al menos 6 variedades de SGB: la polineuropatía desmielinizante aguda (AIDP), la polineuropatía axonal aguda (AMAN), la polineuropatía axonal sensitivo motora aguda (AMSAN), la polineuropatía axonal sensitiva aguda (ASAN), el síndrome de Miller-Fisher (MF) y la pandisautonomía aguda 8,9 . La mayoría de los estudios que han caracterizado el SGB proceden de Estados Unidos, Europa, Japón, China o Australia.…”

Clinical Reasoning: Burning hands and feet

“…7 Small-fiber GBS, which is also known as a form of sensory GBS, 8 is a controversial diagnosis, but needs consideration where weakness is minimal and nerve conduction tests are normal, in the presence of monophasic signs and symptoms of small fiber involvement.…”