gbs management

• related: Neurology

• high risk of respiratory failure: frequent measure vital capacity and negative inspiratory force
• plasma exchange or IVIG to combat antibodies against nerves
• Patients with GBS should receive plasma exchange or IVIG if:
  • Nonambulatory
  • Within 4 weeks of symptom onset
• Those who are ambulatory and recovering generally do not require treatment.
• Transverse myelitis is typically treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, not GBS

The manifestations of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) tend to evolve as follows:

• 2 weeks of progressive motor weakness that can lead to paralysis
• 2-4 weeks of plateaued symptoms
• Slow, spontaneous recovery over months

At a year after symptom onset, 85% of patients with GBS have regained the ability to walk and nearly 60% have had full, spontaneous neurologic recovery. Although patients with GBS typically recover without intervention, treatment with plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin shortens the time to recovery by approximately 50%.