Electrophysiological study during the initial phase of the Guillain-Barre syndrome

Introduction. In typical Guillain-Barre syndrome the clinical sympthomatology is more pronounced in lower extremities. So, this is the territory of election to demonstrate electrophysiological abnormalities early in the disease. Patients and methods. We presented the results of electrophysiological study of 37 patients, who showed abnormalities in peroneal nerve territory as soon as 15 days from the onset of the disorder and were maintained at least up to 30 days later. Since Guillain-Barre syndrome is an heterogeneous syndrome, which can differ in extension and severity in the different patients, is necessary a more extensive electrophysiological study. Furthermore, subtypes of the disorder are recognized in relation to different electrophysiological patterns. Therefore, it is important to analyze data of each patient individually and to make control evolutive studies. For these reasons we also describe in detail the electrophysiological study of a selected patient affected by Guillain-Barre syndrome. In this case motor and sensory abnormalities were localized in distal nerve segments, and there was not denervation potentials in EMG. Results. We consider these findings indicative of a mainly distal subpattern with a good prognosis. The occurrence of A-waves was an early finding in this case of Guillain-Barre syndrome. During the course of the disease the behavior of these A-waves was variable in the different nerves of the lower extremities, and they disappeared in parallel with the clinical improvement of the patient.