A follow-up study on Guillain-Barre syndrome and validation of Brighton criteria

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the major cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). Comprehensive classification and predictive measures need to be created for GBS. This study was conducted to evaluate GBS patients’ prognosis and Brighton criteria validity in Iranian population. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records of patients with GBS admitted to Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. After collecting data from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, nerve conduction studies, and clinical examinations, Brighton criteria and GBS disability scores were calculated. Patients ultimately received follow-up telephone calls after 15 to 45 months of admission, checking on one’s clinical status and the ability to walk independently. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Patients were mostly men (78.0%) with the mean age of 48.58 years. GBS onset was reported more frequently in spring. According to Brighton criteria, 41.4%, 51.6%, and 7.0% of the patients were classified as levels 1, 2, and 4, respectively. For GBS disability score, 54.7%, 16.4%, 9.4%, and 6.2% of the patients had grades of 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively. 37 patients (39.4%) restored the ability to walk within the first month, while 3 patients (3.2%) were unable to walk by the end of the second year. Significant relationship was observed between the ability of walking independently and GBS disability score (P < 0.001). In the Iranian GBS population, less than half of the patients met level 1 of Brighton criteria and more than half of them reached the GBS disability score of 4, and walking ability was correlated to GBS disability score.