Shukla 1988.

Methods	Double‐blind randomised parallel‐group controlled trial
Participants	16 participants with GBS fulfilling diagnostic criteria of Asbury 1990
Interventions	Prednisolone 60 mg daily in divided doses for 1 week, 40 mg daily for 1 week, 30 mg daily for 2 weeks, and thereafter at the discretion of the physician or identical appearing placebo tablets
Outcomes	Changes in the disability grade of Hughes 1978 after 1, 4, and 6 weeks. After 4 weeks, 5 of 8 corticosteroid and 3 of 6 placebo participants had improved ≥ 1 grades. 2 placebo participants dropped out
Funding	Not stated
Conflicts of interest among primary investigators	Not stated
Notes	Single centre Conducted in India
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	"Patients were randomised: packets of drugs had been prepared and numbered randomly well in advance"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	See above
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes except death	Low risk	"Placebo tablets of the same size, shape and colour were given in the equivalent number and duration"
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) Death	Low risk	Reporting of death unlikely to be affected by blinding
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes except death	Low risk	"Assessments were made...by a doctor who had no knowledge of the treatment schedule"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) Death	Low risk	Reporting of death unlikely to be affected by blinding
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes except death	High risk	3 of 8 corticosteroid and 1 of 8 control participants were omitted at 4‐week follow‐up, including 1 from each group who died
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) Death	Low risk	Deaths were reported
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	None identified
Other bias	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to judge