GBS-CIDP - Sindrome di Guillain-Barre';

Overview

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves convey sensory information (e.g., pain, temperature) from the body to the brain and motor (i.e., movement) signals from the brain to the body. GBS is characterized by weakness and numbness or tingling in the legs and arms, and possible loss of movement and feeling in the legs, arms, upper body, and face.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradicalneuropathy (CIDP), is considered to be a related form of Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is much less common than GBS, and evolves much more slowly and usually is longer lasting. Some CIDP patients experience periods of worsening and improvement, and individual relapses are often confused with GBS.

Incidence

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder; its frequency is about 1 to 2 cases in every 100,000 people per year. Men and women, young and old, are equally prone to contracting GBS.

Causes

Guillain-Barré syndrome is not hereditary or contagious. What causes GBS is not known; however, in about half of all cases the onset of the syndrome follows a viral or bacterial infection, such as the following:

* flu, common cold
* gastrointestinal viral infection
* infectious mononucleosis
* viral hepatitis
* campylobacteriosis (usually from eating undercooked poultry)
* porphyria (rare disease of red blood cells)

A small number of cases have been known to occur after a medical procedure, such as minor surgery.

Guillain-Barré syndrome may be an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies that damage the myelin sheath that surrounds peripheral nerves. The myelin sheath is a fatty substance that surrounds axons. It increases the speed at which signals travel along the nerves.

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