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Understanding Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your hands and feet are usually the first symptoms.
These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe form Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be hospitalized to receive treatment.
The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown. But two-thirds of patients report symptoms of an infection in the six weeks preceding. These include a COVID-19, respiratory or a gastrointestinal infection or Zika virus.
There's no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness. Although most people recover completely from Guillain-Barre syndrome, some severe cases can be fatal. While recovery may take up to several years, most people are able to walk again six months after symptoms first started. Some people may have lasting effects from it, such as weakness, numbness or fatigue.
Guillain Barre Syndrome Symptoms
Guillain-Barre syndrome often begins with tingling and weakness starting in your feet and legs and spreading to your upper body and arms. Some people notice the first symptoms in the arms or face. As Guillain-Barre syndrome progresses, muscle weakness can turn into paralysis.
Signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome may include:
- A pins and needles sensation in your fingers, toes, ankles or wrists
- Weakness in your legs that spreads to your upper body
- Unsteady walking or inability to walk or climb stairs
- Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing
- Double vision or inability to move the eyes
- Severe pain that may feel achy, shooting or cramplike and may be worse at night
- Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function
- Rapid heart rate
- Low or high blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
People with Guillain-Barre syndrome usually experience their most significant weakness within two weeks after symptoms begin.
Types
Guillain-Barre syndrome has several forms. The main types are:
- Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), the most common form in North America and Europe. The most common sign of AIDP is muscle weakness that starts in the lower part of your body and spreads upward.
- Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), in which paralysis starts in the eyes. MFS is also associated with unsteady gait. MFS is less common in the U.S. but more common in Asia.
- Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) are less common in the U.S. But AMAN and AMSAN are more frequent in China, Japan and Mexico.
What is Guillain–Barré syndrome?
Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks your nerves. It often starts with weakness and tingling in the hands and feet and can rapidly progress to full-body paralysis in severe cases.
What causes Guillain–Barré syndrome?
The exact cause is unknown, but about two-thirds of patients report having had an infection—like respiratory, gastrointestinal, COVID‑19, or Zika—within six weeks before developing symptoms.
What are the typical symptoms?
Common symptoms include:
- “Pins and needles” sensation in fingers, toes, ankles, or wrists
- Weakness in the legs that spreads upward
- Trouble walking, chewing, swallowing, eye movement, and facial expressions
- Severe pain, sensitive to night-time aches
- Rapid heart rate, blood pressure changes, bladder/bowel issues, and breathing difficulties
- You typically reach peak weakness within two weeks of symptom onset.
How is Guillain–Barré syndrome treated and what’s the outlook?
While there's no cure, treatments like plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin can ease symptoms and shorten illness duration. Most patients fully recover, and many can walk again within six months, though recovery may take years. Some might have lasting effects such as fatigue, numbness, or weakness. Rarely, GBS can be fatal.
Are there different types of Guillain–Barré syndrome?
Yes. The main forms include:
- The most common form of AIDP is acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in North America and Europe
- Miller Fisher syndrome: primarily causes eye paralysis and balance problems
- AMAN/AMSAN: more common in Asia (e.g., China, Japan, Mexico) and involves axonal damage
- Each type may present with varied symptoms and progression.
