Table 2.
Frequency of physical examination and diagnostic test results
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Physical examination* | |
| Back or limb pain | 27 (55.1) |
| Limb parathesia/numbness | 7 (14.3) |
| Facial weakness | 12 (24.5) |
| Ocular abnormalities | 14 (28.6) |
| Bulbar symptoms | 21 (42.9) |
| Respiratory problems (all intubated) | 9 (18.4) |
| Autonomic involvement | 10 (20.4) |
| Reflexes impaired | 48 (98.0) |
| Diagnostic tests* | |
| Abnormal brain MRI | 2 (11.8) |
| Abnormal spinal MRI | 4 (26.7) |
| High CSF protein | 15 (62.5) |
| High CSF WBC | 4 (10.0) |
| Positive culture (Heliobacter pylori, varicella zoster virus, Brucella, Enterobacter pneumonia, enterovirus, campylobacter) | 7 (14.3) |
| Clinical management* | |
| Plasmapheresis | 4 (8.2) |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin | 40 (81.6) |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids | 5 (10.2) |
| Intensive care unit admission | 26 (53.1) |
| Clinical outcomes | |
| Progression to maximum paralysis | |
| ≤2 weeks | 34 (69.4) |
| >2 weeks | 15 (30.6) |
| Residual paralysis (at 60 days) | 23 (46.9) |
| Recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome | 3 (6.1) |
| Relapse | 1 (1.0) |
Note:
*
Mutually exclusive.
Abbreviations: CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; n, frequency; WBC, white blood cells.