Table 1.
Characteristics clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome and recommended diagnostic investigations.
| Clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome | Recommended diagnostic investigations | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor dysfunctions | Symmetrical limb weakness: proximal, distal or global; typically distal to proximal and rapidly ascending | Cerebrospinal fluid examination |
| Muscle weakness (especially neck and respiratory muscles) or wasting (especially limbs) | Electrophysiological study | |
| Cranial nerve palsies: III–VII, IX–XII (most typical: facial palsy) | Stool culture for C. jejuni | |
| Areflexia | Serology to C. jejuni, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, HIV, M. pneumoniae | |
| Sensory dysfunctions | Pain | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| Numbness, paraesthesiae | Electrocardiogram | |
| Ataxia | Blood pressure monitoring | |
| Decrease or loss in proprioception, vibration, touch, and pain distally | Autonomic function tests | |
| Autonomic dysfunctions | Sinus tachycardia and bradycardia | Antiganglioside antibodies |
| Other cardiac arrhythmias | Biochemical screening: urea, electrolytes, liver enzymes | |
| Hypertension and postural hypotension | Full blood count | |
| Wide fluctuations of pulse and blood pressure | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein | |
| Hypersalivation | ||
| Anhydrosis or excessive sweating | ||
| Urinary sphincter disturbances | ||
| Gastric dysmotility | ||
| Constipation or diarrhea | ||
| Abnormal vasomotor tone causing venous pooling and facial flushing | ||
| Tonic pupils | ||
| Others | Papilloedema |