Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory polyradiculoneuritis. Our aim in this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and the long-term sequelae of GBS in a French pediatric population.
Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study we evaluated clinical signs, radiological examinations, laboratory tests, treatments, and outcomes.
Results: One hundred ten children were included in this investigation. These children presented with walking difficulties, muscle weakness, and cranial nerve impairment. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed 70% with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and 16% with acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). One hundred children received immunoglobulins. At follow-up, 77% were cured, whereas 9% had sequelae, associated with an axonal form (P < .01) and a short interval between symptom onset and hospitalization (P < .01). The need for intubation was correlated with peripheral facial paralysis (P < .01) and dysautonomia (P < .01).
Discussion: Although AIDP and AMAN present in a similar way, the axonal form is associated with a worse outcome.
Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome; children; dysautonomia; outcome; sequelae.
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