Progress in pathogenesis of Guillain⁃Barré syndrome

Abstract

Guillain ⁃ Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system and consists of at least four subtypes of acute peripheral neuropathy namely, acute inflammatroy demyelinating polyneuropathy, acute motor axonal neuropathy, acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy, and Miller ⁃ Fisher syndrome. Major advances have been made in the understanding of the mechanism of some subtypes. GBS is thought to be due to autoimmunity for which immunotherapy is usually prescribed. About 20% patients died or had persistent disability despite normative immunotherapy. More research is needed to identify better treatment regimens and new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarized the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of the principal subtypes.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.02.004