Childhood Guillain-Barré Syndrome’s Subtypes and Outcome: A Single Centre Experience

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to revise the clinical, epidemiologic and prognostic features of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome. METHODS: Thirty two children admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome between June 2007- November 2019 were enrolled in the study. We also administered clinical evaluation scale at onset, discharge, 1,3,6 and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: The median age was 72.22 months (range from 6 to 202 months) with a male to female ratio of 1.46. Based on electrophysiological features; 22 patients were classified as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, 10 as acute motor axonal neuropathy. The incidence of cranial nerve involvement was 28.1 % and was related to lower clinical scale score at admission and discharge. Clinical scale scores were significantly different between axonal and demyelinating subgroups except for admission. At 12th month follow-up visit, 78.1% of patients were recovered without sequal. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We think that the most important predictor of morbidity is predicting the possible ventilatory support need during the follow up period. Short incubating period of antecedent infection and cranial nerve involvement will probably increase ventilatory support need. The prognosis was found to be significantly different between electrophysiological subtypes in our series, axonal forms being consistent with poor prognosis.