Pain in Guillain-Barre syndrome: A long-term follow-up study.
Summary of "Pain in Guillain-Barre syndrome: A long-term follow-up study."
BACKGROUND:
Pain in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) may be pronounced and is often overlooked.
OBJECTIVES:
To obtain detailed information about pain in GBS and its clinical variants.
METHODS:
This was a prospective cohort study in 156 patients with GBS (including 18 patients with Miller Fisher syndrome [MFS]). We assessed the location, type, and intensity of pain using questionnaires at standard time points during a 1-year follow-up. Pain data were compared to other clinical features and serology.
RESULTS:
Pain was reported in the 2 weeks preceding weakness in 36% of patients, 66% reported pain in the acute phase (first 3 weeks after inclusion), and 38% reported pain after 1 year. In the majority of patients, the intensity of pain was moderate to severe. Longitudinal analysis showed high mean pain intensity scores during the entire follow-up. Pain occurred in the whole spectrum of GBS. The mean pain intensity was predominantly high in patients with GBS (non-MFS), patients with sensory disturbances, and severely affected patients. Only during later stages of disease, severity of weakness and disability were significantly correlated with intensity of pain.
CONCLUSIONS:
Pain is a common and often severe symptom in the whole spectrum of GBS (including MFS, mildly affected, and pure motor patients). As it frequently occurs as the first symptom, but may even last for at least 1 year, pain in GBS requires full attention. It is likely that sensory nerve fiber involvement results in more severe pain.
Affiliation
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Room BA-450, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands l.ruts@erasmusmc.nl.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Neurology
ISSN: 1526-632X
Pages: 1439-1447
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20861454
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f88345
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Zimeldine
One of the SEROTONIN UPTAKE INHIBITORS formerly used for depression but was withdrawn worldwide in September 1983 because of the risk of GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME associated with its use. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p385)
Miller Fisher Syndrome
A variant of the GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME characterized by the acute onset of oculomotor dysfunction, ataxia, and loss of deep tendon reflexes with relative sparing of strength in the extremities and trunk. The ataxia is produced by peripheral sensory nerve dysfunction and not by cerebellar injury. Facial weakness and sensory loss may also occur. The process is mediated by autoantibodies directed against a component of myelin found in peripheral nerves. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1313; Neurology 1987 Sep;37(9):1493-8)
Autoimmune Diseases Of The Nervous System
Disorders caused by cellular or humoral immune responses primarily directed towards nervous system autoantigens. The immune response may be directed towards specific tissue components (e.g., myelin) and may be limited to the central nervous system (e.g., MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS) or the peripheral nervous system (e.g., GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME).
Lost To Follow-up
Study subjects in COHORT STUDIES whose outcomes are unknown e.g., because they could not or did not wish to attend follow-up visits.(from Dictionary of Epidemiology, 5th ed.)
Nervous System Autoimmune Disease, Experimental
Experimental animal models for human AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. They include GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME (see NEURITIS, AUTOIMMUNE, EXPERIMENTAL); MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (see MYASTHENIA GRAVIS, AUTOIMMUNE, EXPERIMENTAL); and MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (see ENCEPHALOMYELITIS, AUTOIMMUNE, EXPERIMENTAL).
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