The outcome of Guillain-Barré syndrome following intravenous immunoglobulin compared to the natural course

Effect of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis on nerve conduction parameters compared to the natural course of Guillain-Barré syndrome

BACKGROUND

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasmapheresis (PLEX) are recommended in moderate to severe Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but there is paucity of studies evaluating its effect on nerve conduction studies (NCS). We report the effect of IVIg and PLEX on the NCS parameters and clinical outcomes compared to natural course (NC) of GBS patients.

METHOD

Moderate to severe GBS patients were included based on clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and NCS finding. Six motor and sensory nerves were evaluated at admission, one month and 3 months, and NCS subtyping was done. Axonal and demyelination burden in motor nerves and early reversible conduction block (ERCB) were noted. Patients receiving IVIg, PLEX or on NC were noted. Outcome was defined at 3 months into complete, partial and poor using a 0-6 GBS Disability Scale (GBSDS).

RESULT

Seventy-two patients were included, whose median age was 36 years and 22(30.6 %) were females. 44 patients received IVIg, 9 PLEX and 19 were in NC, and they had comparable peak disability. AIDP was the dominant subtype at admission (58.3 %), which remained so at 3 months (50 %). The shift of subtypes was the highest from the equivocal group followed by AMAN and the least from AIDP. IVIg and PLEX group had more reduction in axonal burden and had ERCB compared to NC. 33(44 %) patients had complete recovery, and 40(55.5 %) patients had concordance in clinical and neurophysiological outcome.

CONCLUSION

Transition of GBS subtype may occur at follow-up from all the subtypes, the highest from the equivocal and the lowest from the AIDP group. IVIg/PLEX treatment may help in reducing conduction block and axonal burden.

What Is in the Literature

ABSTRACT

This issue of What is in the Literature focuses on the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a monophasic illness, and there is new information about precipitating factors, changes in nerve conduction studies over time, potential biomarkers, optimal treatment, and features in uncommon patient populations.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

This article summarizes the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, pathogenesis, and prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), with insights into the current and future diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for this neuromuscular syndrome.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

GBS is an acute, inflammatory, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy that encompasses many clinical variants and divergent pathogenic mechanisms that lead to axonal, demyelinating, or mixed findings on electrodiagnostic studies. The type of antecedent infection, the development of pathogenic cross-reactive antibodies via molecular mimicry, and the location of the target gangliosides affect the subtype and severity of the illness. The data from the International GBS Outcome Study have highlighted regional variances, provided new and internationally validated prognosis tools that are beneficial for counseling, and introduced a platform for discussion of GBS-related open questions. New research has been undertaken, including research on novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, which may lead to new therapies.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

GBS is among the most frequent life-threatening neuromuscular emergencies in the world. At least 20% of patients with GBS have a poor prognosis and significant residual deficits despite receiving available treatments. Research is ongoing to further understand the pathogenesis of the disorder, find new biomarkers, and develop more effective and specific treatments.

Kinesin-5 inhibition improves neural regeneration in experimental autoimmune neuritis

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune neuropathies can result in long-term disability and incomplete recovery, despite adequate first-line therapy. Kinesin-5 inhibition was shown to accelerate neurite outgrowth in different preclinical studies. Here, we evaluated the potential neuro-regenerative effects of the small molecule kinesin-5 inhibitor monastrol in a rodent model of acute autoimmune neuropathies, experimental autoimmune neuritis.

METHODS

Experimental autoimmune neuritis was induced in Lewis rats with the neurogenic P2-peptide. At the beginning of the recovery phase at day 18, the animals were treated with 1 mg/kg monastrol or sham and observed until day 30 post-immunisation. Electrophysiological and histological analysis for markers of inflammation and remyelination of the sciatic nerve were performed. Neuromuscular junctions of the tibialis anterior muscles were analysed for reinnervation. We further treated human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived secondary motor neurons with monastrol in different concentrations and performed a neurite outgrowth assay.

RESULTS

Treatment with monastrol enhanced functional and histological recovery in experimental autoimmune neuritis. Motor nerve conduction velocity at day 30 in the treated animals was comparable to pre-neuritis values. Monastrol-treated animals showed partially reinnervated or intact neuromuscular junctions. A significant and dose-dependent accelerated neurite outgrowth was observed after kinesin-5 inhibition as a possible mode of action.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacological kinesin-5 inhibition improves the functional outcome in experimental autoimmune neuritis through accelerated motor neurite outgrowth and histological recovery. This approach could be of interest to improve the outcome of autoimmune neuropathy patients.

Sex differences in Guillain Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and experimental autoimmune neuritis

Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) and its variants, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP and its variants, are regarded as immune mediated neuropathies. Unlike in many autoimmune disorders, GBS and CIDP are more common in males than females. Sex is not a clear predictor of outcome. Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is an animal model of these diseases, but there are no studies of the effects of sex in EAN. The pathogenesis of GBS and CIDP involves immune response to non-protein antigens, antigen presentation through non-conventional T cells and, in CIDP with nodopathy, IgG4 antibody responses to antigens. There are some reported sex differences in some of these elements of the immune system and we speculate that these sex differences could contribute to the male predominance of these diseases, and suggest that sex differences in peripheral nerves is a topic worthy of further study.