The value of sensory nerve conduction studies in the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract

Electrophysiology plays a determinant role in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) diagnosis, classification, and prognostication. However, traditional electrodiagnostic (EDX) criteria for GBS rely on motor nerve conduction studies (NCS) and are suboptimal early in the course of the disease or in the setting of GBS variants. Sensory nerve conduction studies, including the sural-sparing pattern and the sensory ratio are not yet included in EDX criteria despite their well-established role in GBS diagnosis. The aim of this review is to discuss the diagnostic value of sensory NCS in GBS, their role in establishing the diagnosis and predicting the outcome according to the various subtypes of the disease.

Keywords: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy; Acute motor axonal neuropathy; Guillain–Barre syndrome; Miller Fisher syndrome; Sensory nerve conduction studies; Sensory ratio; Sural sparing pattern; Ulnar ratio.