Significance of phrenic nerve electrophysiological abnormalities in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Neurology. 2005 Nov 22;65(10):1646-9. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000184589.62101.b9.

Abstract

The authors investigated whether the amplitude and latency of diaphragm compound muscle action potential helped predict respiratory failure in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Both variables were significantly but weakly correlated with vital capacity (VC) and were similar in unventilated (n = 60) and ventilated (n = 10) patients. In ventilated patients, motor loss severity, progression, and VC reduction were significantly greater, and bulbar dysfunction was more common. Predicting respiratory failure must rely on clinical features and VC.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diaphragm / innervation
  • Diaphragm / physiopathology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Electrodiagnosis / methods
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / complications*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology
  • Muscle Weakness / diagnosis
  • Muscle Weakness / etiology
  • Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
  • Neural Conduction / physiology
  • Phrenic Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Respiratory Center / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / physiopathology*
  • Vital Capacity / physiology