On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder that causes your immune system to attack your peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS nerves connect your brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body. Damage to these nerves makes it hard for them to transmit signals. As a result, your muscles have trouble responding to your brain. No one knows what causes the syndrome. Sometimes it is triggered by an infection, surgery, or a vaccination.

The first symptom is usually weakness or a tingling feeling in your legs. The feeling can spread to your upper body. In severe cases, you become almost paralyzed. This is life-threatening. You might need a respirator to breathe. Symptoms usually worsen over a period of weeks and then stabilize.

Guillain-Barre can be hard to diagnose. Possible tests include nerve tests and a spinal tap. Most people recover. Recovery can take a few weeks to a few years. Treatment can help symptoms, and may include medicines or a procedure called plasma exchange.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Vaccines

Specifics

• Miller Fisher Syndrome (GBS/CIDP Foundation International)

Genetics

• Guillain-Barré syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Genetic variation of low-to-medium-affinity Fc-gamma receptors in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Article: Cerebrospinal Fluid Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 1...
• Article: Clinico-epidemiological profile and prediction of outcome in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Autoimmune Association
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Children

• Children with GBS (GBS/CIDP Foundation International)

Patient Handouts

• Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Guillain-Barre syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish