Year: 1994
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a monophasic (sub)acute inflammatory\\ndemyelinating predominantly motor polyradiculo-neuropathy. Clinical criteria\\nhave been proposed by Asbury (Asbury et aI., 1978; Asbury and Cornblath, 1990).\\nGBS is a selflimiting disease, however, up to 30% of the patients may need\\ntemporary artificial ventilation; about 15% remain disabled and mortality is estimated\\nto be up to 5%. Therefore, GBS must be regarded as a serious disease.\\nPlasma exchange (PE) and more recently high dose immune globulins ([vIg) have\\nbeen proved to be succesful in shortening the duration of the disease, the duration\\nof artificial ventilation and to improve outcome at 6 months (GBS study group, 19-\\n85; van del\\' Meche et aI., 1992; French cooperative group, 1992). In contrast to\\nimmune globulin therapy, plasma exchange is not always possible for haemodynamic\\nreasons. In addition it is generally not feasible in children, not in all hospitals\\navailable, and is in general rather cumbersome. Therefore in the multicentre Dutch\\nGuillain-Barn: Study the effectiveness of immune globulins versus plasma exchange\\nwas evaluated in 150 patients, with a main aim to demonstrate at least equal\\nefficacy. This study revealed therapeutic effectiveness of both therapies with a\\nlimited but significant superiority of immune globulins over plasma exchange (van\\ndel\\' Meche et aI., 1992).\\n[n the Dutch Guillain-Barre trial each patient was tested electrodiagnostically three\\ntimes in an early stage of the disease according to a rigid protocol. The results of\\nthese electro diagnostic studies are the subject of this thesis.
Author: Jan Meulstee
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1601487627