Sharma Geetanjali, Sood Sushma and Sharma Sudhir
Purpose: Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune mediated de-mylelinating poly-radiculoneuropathy.
As early diagnosis favors a good outcome after treatment, this study was carried out to analyze the
electro-physiological abnormalities in the first week of GBS in this region.
Basic procedures: The study was carried out for early confirmation of GBS in 65 clinically diagnosed patients
reporting within a week of muscle weakness by electro-physiological tests in the years 2010-12.
Results: Slowing of motor conduction velocities, decreased amplitude and increased distal motor latencies
(DML) was seen in peroneal, tibial, median and ulnar nerves in descending order of severity. Conduction block
was seen in the lower limb in 10 (15.38%) patients. F-wave was completely absent in upper and lower limbs in 50
(76.92%) patients while 15 patients (23.07%) showed decreased F-wave conduction velocity in both limbs. Sensory
conduction velocity of median nerve was less compared to sural. EMG studies showed that demyelinating type of
neuropathy was predominant (83.33%).
Discussion: Electro-physiological studies play an important role in the early detection; characterization &
treatment of GBS because timely intervention reduces morbidity and disability. Increased DML, absent F- wave,
decreased median with normal Sural SCV (sensory conduction velocity) is diagnostic of early GBS.