Research Article
Jorge Mario Palmezano Dí
Abstract
Introduction: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is defined as progressive polyradiculoneuropathy characterized by the presence of flaccid paralysis with symmetrical limb weakness associated with hyporeflexia or arreflexia. It is estimated that an incidence varies between 0.20-3.23 cases per 100,000 inhabitants around the world. Methods and design: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population was conformed by all the patients that entered a University Hospital of Colombia between 2012-2016. Patients younger than 13 years or who had an incomplete medical history were excluded. Results: A total of 55 patients were analyzed. The median age was 45 years and the median time toevolution was 5 days. Sixty percent of the patients were men. The presence of motor involvement, the initial distal involvement and the presence of decreased reflexes were present in more than 90% of the cases. There were no deaths in the hospital setting. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics found are similar to those described in the world literature. Despite the risk of ventilatory failure of these patients and the need for admission to an intensive care unit, no fatal cases were reported. The clinical presentation in this group of patients is typical, fulfilling Brighton diagnostic criteria in most cases with certainty level 1. Most patients are managed with immunoglobulin with good clinical response.