Pattern of Clinical Profile and Outcome of Gillian Barre Syndrome in Sudanese Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Guillian Barre'-Syndrome (GBS) is an acute, autoimmune disease affecting spinal roots and peripheral nerves, characterized by a rapidly progressive, ascending weakness of the extremity, trunk and even respiratory and facial muscles and with minor sensory and autonomic dysfunction. As in Sudan there is no enough data regarding the pattern of presentation and outcome of GBS, our research aimed to study clinical profile, electrophysiological variant, and outcome of Sudanese patients diagnosed with (GBS). Methods: A multi centers cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted in Khartoum from March to September 2020, 62 patients enrolled in the study, structured questionnaire consists of personal data, clinical history, examination findings, electrophysiological study result, management and outcome is used to assess the clinical profile and outcome of the disease. Results: The study revealed that males and females are equally represented, 70% patients are between 18 years and 50 years. The onset of the weakness was less than or equal 3 days in 33.9% of patients, from 4 to 7 days in 41.9%, from 8 to 14 days in 11.3% and above 14 days in 12.9%.40.3% patients had Evidence of autonomic dysfunction. The majority of patients presented with weakness that started in the lower limbs (93.5%), in (4.8%) the weakness started in the upper limbs and then descend. In (1.6%) the weakness started in the pharyngeal and respiratory muscles from the start. Sensory complains were observed in 54 patients (87.1%), 3 patients (4.8%) developed urinary bladder incontinence and 36 patients (58.1%) had back pain at the onset of the disease. On clinical examination; (98.4%) of patients had absent reflexes, (35.5%) had bilateral facial nerve palsy and (4.8%) had unilateral facial nerve pals. Based on the electrophysiological studies, (37.09 %) were recorded as acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), (29.03%) as acute inflammatory demyelinating poly neuropathy (AIDP) and (29.03%) as acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). Regarding the outcome, 30 patients (48.4%) fully recovered, 25 patients (40.3%) recovered with motor deficit, and 7 patients (11.3%) unfortunately died. Conclusion: This study concluded that Guillian Barre'-Syndrome (GBS) in Sudanese population mainly affects age group from 18 to 50 years with variable maximum onset of weakness, presentation and outcome. Lower limb weakness and absent reflexes were the most presenting features. NCS showed axonal type of GBS found to be in nearly 66% of patients and 40% showed clinical evidence of dysautonomia.