PPhysiopedia Guillain-Barre Syndrome Introduction

pPhysiopedia Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Introduction: Guillain Barre Syndrome(ghee-yan-bar syndrome) also known as landry's palsy is a classic lower motor neuron disorder. It is a reactive self limited auto-immune disease in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system[1] and which presents as acute generalized weakness. It is referred to as a syndrome because it represents a broad group of demyelinating inflammatory poly radiculo-neuropathies.

GBS can also be classified in the following categories:

1. AIDP (Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy): the immune response damages the myelin coating and interferes with the transmission of nerve signals.

2. Axonal can be further classified into:

•Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN)

•Acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN)

In the above two, the axons themselves are damaged by the immune response.