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Revista Costarricense de Ciencias Médicas

Print version ISSN 0253-2948

Abstract

QUINTERO, Teodoro  and  BOZA, Ricardo. Síndrome de Guillain-Barré: análisis de 36 pacientes. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 1999, vol.20, n.3-4, pp.217-230. ISSN 0253-2948.

To describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome seen at the Hospital San Juan de Dios in San José, Costa Rica, from january 1994 to december 1998. A retrospective analysis was realized on the medical files from 36 patients discharged with the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.  All patients met the previousiy published criteria from Asbury and Combiath and were evaluated by the Neurology Service. The annual incidence of the Guillain-Barré syndrome was 1.2 cases per 100.000 inhabitants.  We found 36 patients with the inclusion criteria, 64% of them were men. lt was more frequent in patients between 30-49 years old and in the rainy months from May to December.  A recent infection was demonstrated in 70% of patients.  The most frequent infectious processes were respiratory tract ínfections (36%) and diarrhea (17%).  In 50% of the patients we found albumino-cytologic dissociation in the Cerebro Spinal Fluid.  We performe electrophysiologic studies in 72% of patients and were abnormal in alí of them.  All patients presentes clínical motor manifestations and in 78% an ascendent progressive course was observed.  The Miller Fisher syndrome was observed in 5.5% of the patients.  The patients were treated in 42% with High Doses of IV Gammaglobulin.  Twenty five percent of the patients required assisted mechanical ventilation.  The mortaiity rate was 8%. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients in this study were similar to those described in medical literature except for a high incidence of the syndrome in the rainy months from May to December.  With the knowledge of the high incidence of influenza virus infection in this season in our country, we need more studies regarding the relationship of influenza A virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome in Costa Rica.

Keywords : Guillain Barre Syndrome; polyradiculoneuropathy; Miller Fisher Syndrome; Influenza; Campylobacter jejuni.

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