Utility of sequential nerve conduction studies and electromyography in early guillain barre syndrome; a clinical and electrophysiological study

: Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) play an important role in GBS diagnosis and subtype classification but diagnosis of GBS in the very early stage may be challenging. The clinical presentation, course, the clinical recovery and outcome of GBS all are variable. Aim of the work: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical and neurophysiological findings of early Guillain-Barré syndrome and to identify factors that influence outcome. Patient and Methods: we prospectively recruited patients from clinical neurophysiology unit in Kasr Al –Ainy Hospitals and Benha University Hospitals, aimed to evaluate the clinical and neurophysiological findings of early GBS and to identify factors that influence outcome. The studied sample was 17 patients of GBS fulfilling its criteria . Results: majority of the patients were AIDP (76.5%), while (23.5 %) of patients were axonal (either AMAN or AMSAN) . Predictors of poor outcome were old age, cranial nerve dysfunction and respiratory muscle dysfunction. Conclusion: Electro-physiological studies play an important role in the early detection of GBS. Early diagnosis of GBS is essential as early treatment decreases the duration of GBS and its severity. Clinical presentation, course and outcome of GBS can be variable among patients.