General Medical Information

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Frank E. Lucente
Samir Shah
Roger Kula

In Guillain-Barré syndrome, an acute postinfectious inflammatory polyneuropathy, the patient has ascending limb weakness and muscle tenderness that in rare instances progresses to dysphagia, respiratory failure, and minimal sensory symptoms. The patient continues to have a fever. Guillain-Barré syndrome usually follows a viral illness or inoculation with vaccine. The Miller-Fisher variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome begins with weakness of facial and neck muscles before limb weakness develops. The diagnosis usually is confirmed when there is an elevated level of protein in the cerebrospinal fluid without a cellular response.