Table III.
Diagnostic characteristics for Guillain-Barré syndrome patients.
| Neurological characteristics at admission | n (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal strength | 5 (2) | |
|
| ||
| Unilateral limb weakness | 0 (0) | |
|
| ||
| Weakness in arms and legs | 235 (94.7) | |
|
| ||
| Weakness in legs only | 5 (2) | |
|
| ||
| Weakness in arms only | 3 (1.2) | |
|
| ||
| Severity of weakness (MRC sum score), mean ± SD | 30.3 ± 15.5 | |
|
| ||
| Decreased deep tendon reflexes | 233 (94) | |
|
| ||
| Normal tendon reflexes in affected arms | 9 (3.6) | |
|
| ||
| Normal tendon reflexes in affected legs | 6 (2.4) | |
|
| ||
| Duration of progressive phase | Number of days between onset of weakness and admission | 5 (1-30) |
|
| ||
| Number of days between onset of weakness and nadir | 4 (1-24) | |
|
| ||
| Neurological symptom at nadir | Weakness in arms and legs | 239 (96.3) |
|
| ||
| Weakness in legs only | 3 (1.2) | |
|
| ||
| Weakness in arms only | 1 (0.4) | |
|
| ||
| Decreased deep tendon reflex | 242 (97.6) | |
|
| ||
| Normal tendon reflex in weak limbs | 6 (2.4) | |
|
| ||
| Severity of weakness (MRC sum score) | 28.5 ± 16.5 | |
|
| ||
| Fluctuations in clinical course | Monophasic course | 242 (97.5) |
|
| ||
| Treatment related fluctuations within 8 weeks after onset of weakness | 6/141 (4.1) | |
|
| ||
| Cerebrospinal fluid examination (n = 182) | Cell count < 5µL | 158 (86.8) |
|
| ||
| Cell count between 5-10 µL | 15 (8.2) | |
|
| ||
| Cell count between 10-30µL | 4 (2.2) | |
|
| ||
| Cell count between 30-50 µL | 2 (1) | |
|
| ||
| Cell count between > 50 µL | 3 (1.6) | |
|
| ||
| Elevated protein concentration > 45 mg/dL | 100 (54.9) | |
|
| ||
| Nerve conduction study (n = 229) | Demyelinating subtype | 105 (45.8) |
|
| ||
| Axonal subtype | 102 (44.5) | |
|
| ||
| Inexcitable | 10 (4.4) | |
|
| ||
| Equivocal | 9 (3.9) | |
|
| ||
| Normal | 3 (1.3) | |
MRC: Medical Research Council; SD: standard deviation.