Clinical Characteristics and Electrodiagnostic Features of Guillain-Barre Syndrome Among the Pediatric Population Publisher Pubmed



Ashrafi MR¹ ; Mohammadalipoor A¹ ; Naeini AR² ; Amanat M³ ; Tavasoli AR¹ ; Heidari M¹ ; Badv RS¹ ; Mohammadi M¹ ; Zamani GR¹ ; Rahimidehgolan S⁴ ; Rahimi R⁵ ; Akbari MG⁶
Source: Journal of Child Neurology Published:2020

Abstract

Introduction: Guillain-Barre syndrome is an immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy characterized by different clinical manifestations. We aimed to describe the clinical features, seasonal distribution, subtypes, and electrodiagnostic characteristics of Iranian children with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 30 children with Guillain-Barre syndrome were evaluated. All demographic features were collected and electrodiagnostic study was assessed. Results: Twelve participants were diagnosed with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and 18 patients were identified with acute motor axonal neuropathy. The initial findings showed that a significant number of patients (23 cases, P =.003) resided in rural areas. Our results showed a higher incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome in summer and autumn months. No significant difference was observed between the seasonal distribution of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and acute motor axonal neuropathy subtypes. Antecedent history of pulmonary infections was recorded in 14 children with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Electrophysiological findings revealed a pattern of prolonged F wave latency with reduced persistency, absence of sensory nerve action potential, reduced compound muscle action potential amplitude, prolonged distal motor latency, reduced nerve conduction velocity, and abnormal temporal dispersion or conduction block in most patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. However, reduced compound muscle action potential amplitude, F wave with normal latency and reduced persistency, normal sensory nerve action potential amplitude, normal distal latency, normal sensory nerve conduction velocity, and conduction block or temporal dispersion were observed in most acute motor axonal neuropathy patients. Conclusion: The data support a correlation between Guillain-Barre syndrome incidence with seasonal variation and living area. Further studies should assess the Guillain-Barre syndrome features in pediatric population. © The Author(s) 2020.