Guillain-Barré syndrome: An update in rehabilitation

Background Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune mediated polyradiculoneuropathy which causes acute neuromuscular paralysis and ventilatory failure. It mainly affects young adults, and most patients (80%) make a good recovery; being ambulant again at 6 months post-onset. However, residual deficits can cause significant long-term disability, which impacts on activities of daily living, work, social activities, and health-related quality of life. Content This article provides an overview of the aetiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of GBS. Current evidence regarding use of outcome measures and the symptomatic and rehabilitation treatment for adult GBS survivors is outlined. Issues impacting on rehabilitation are also discussed, including complications as a result of immobility, autonomic dysfunction and deafferent pain syndromes. Conclusions GBS is a complex and challenging condition that requires integrated and coordinated health-care delivery and services. Rehabilitation is aimed at improving a person's functional ability in daily living tasks and social reintegration. However, evidence for many rehabilitation treatments is currently lacking. Outcome measurement for disability in this group is also limited and not well quantified. The longer term impact of disability in GBS survivors and ‘aging’ effects are not well understood. Further research in these areas is therefore required.