Short Term Rehabilitative Outcome and its Predictors in Guillain Barré Syndrome

Clinical and electrophysiological data of 34 patientssuffering from Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) wereanalyzed. Functional disability and predictors of outcomewas determined using Hugh’s scale and MedicalResearch Council (MRC) scale at 0, 2 and at 4 weeks.Good outcome was defined as the ability to ambulatewithout assistance. 56% patients were males with meanage of 18.41 years (SD ±13.88). Preceding illness wasseen in 76.5%. Mean days to disease nadir was 4.6 days.Weakness (50%) was the predominant chief complaint.Mechanical ventilation was required in 41.2 % patientswith a mortality of 7.1%. Independent ambulation wasachieved by 61.8% and 17.6% with support at the end ofstudy period. Increasing age (p<0.01), days to nadir(p=0.00), duration of ventilation (p<0.001), severity ofmotor deficit at disease nadir (p<0.001) and high Hugh’sscore (p=0.00) affected outcome. Mechanicallyventilated patients had poorer outcome. Although therecovery from severe GBS was prolonged, most survivorsregained independent ambulation.