Relationship Between Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Levels and Electrophysiologic Abnormalities in Guillain-Barré Syndrome

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2015 Dec;17(2):47-51. doi: 10.1097/CND.0000000000000091.

Abstract

Objectives: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level is known to be elevated in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This report correlates the degree of CSF protein elevation with the number of electrophysiologic abnormalities on nerve conduction study (NCS).

Methods: We reviewed 38 patients admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of GBS and had both a measured CSF protein level and a NCS within 24 hours of each other.

Results: CSF protein level correlates with the number of NCS demyelination criteria, as described by Cornblath, in patients with GBS.

Conclusions: This retrospective study is the first to demonstrate a relationship between the CSF protein level and the electrophysiologic abnormalities that accompany GBS.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Electrophysiology
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neural Conduction / physiology*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Proteins