BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of plasma exchange and intravenous application of immunoglobulins (IVIG) for the treatment of the Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) has been demonstrated in large collectives. In contrast, there are only a few investigations in GBS patients with severe symptoms admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated with selective immune adsorption (SIA). We compared the efficacy and safety of SIA only versus SIA followed by IVIG in patients with severe GBS. METHODS: Patients with severe GBS admitted to the ICU were treated with SIA only or in combination with IVIG. Severity of symptoms was assessed using Hughes grades and severe GBS was defined as ≥ 3. Data were acquired retrospectively for the last 10 years (1998-2008). RESULTS: Data from 30 GBS patients (age 53 ± 16 years) with severe symptoms (Hughes grade 5: 30% [n = 9], grade 4: 57% [n = 17], grade 3: 13% [n = 4]) were analyzed. The mean Hughes grade at admission was 4.2 ± 0.7. Ten patients were treated by SIA only, 20 patients were treated sequentially with SIA followed by IVIG (30 g/d) over 3 days. The number of SIA sessions was 3.2 ± 0.8. Improvement of Hughes grade 4.2 ± 0.7 to 3.4 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001) occurred within 14.6 ± 15.5 days. Treatment with SIA only was as effective as the sequential therapy with IVIG. The Hughes grade decreased significantly in the group of patients where SIA was performed only (P = 0.008) and in the sequential treatment group (P < 0.001), respectively. In one patient SIA had to be terminated after one session due to ICU complications. Other severe side effects were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: In severely affected GBS patients admitted to ICU treatment with SIA seems to be safe and effective. In comparison to treatment with SIA only, sequential therapy with IVIG was not more effective.
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of plasma exchange and intravenous application of immunoglobulins (IVIG) for the treatment of the Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) has been demonstrated in large collectives. In contrast, there are only a few investigations in GBSpatients with severe symptoms admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated with selective immune adsorption (SIA). We compared the efficacy and safety of SIA only versus SIA followed by IVIG in patients with severe GBS. METHODS:Patients with severe GBS admitted to the ICU were treated with SIA only or in combination with IVIG. Severity of symptoms was assessed using Hughes grades and severe GBS was defined as ≥ 3. Data were acquired retrospectively for the last 10 years (1998-2008). RESULTS: Data from 30 GBSpatients (age 53 ± 16 years) with severe symptoms (Hughes grade 5: 30% [n = 9], grade 4: 57% [n = 17], grade 3: 13% [n = 4]) were analyzed. The mean Hughes grade at admission was 4.2 ± 0.7. Ten patients were treated by SIA only, 20 patients were treated sequentially with SIA followed by IVIG (30 g/d) over 3 days. The number of SIA sessions was 3.2 ± 0.8. Improvement of Hughes grade 4.2 ± 0.7 to 3.4 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001) occurred within 14.6 ± 15.5 days. Treatment with SIA only was as effective as the sequential therapy with IVIG. The Hughes grade decreased significantly in the group of patients where SIA was performed only (P = 0.008) and in the sequential treatment group (P < 0.001), respectively. In one patient SIA had to be terminated after one session due to ICU complications. Other severe side effects were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: In severely affected GBSpatients admitted to ICU treatment with SIA seems to be safe and effective. In comparison to treatment with SIA only, sequential therapy with IVIG was not more effective.
Authors: R A C Hughes; E F M Wijdicks; R Barohn; E Benson; D R Cornblath; A F Hahn; J M Meythaler; R G Miller; J T Sladky; J C Stevens Journal: Neurology Date: 2003-09-23 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: D Grob; D Simpson; H Mitsumoto; B Hoch; F Mokhtarian; A Bender; M Greenberg; A Koo; S Nakayama Journal: Neurology Date: 1995-02 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: S Ehrlich; C M Fassbender; C Blaes; C Finke; A Günther; L Harms; F Hoffmann; K Jahner; R Klingel; A Kraft; T Lempert; M Tesch; J Thomsen; H Topka; J Jochim; C Veauthier; W Köhler Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: Marc Nikolaus; Fabienne Kühne; Anna Tietze; Julia Thumfart; Caroline Kempf; Alexander Gratopp; Ellen Knierim; Petra Bittigau; Angela M Kaindl Journal: J Child Neurol Date: 2022-04-18 Impact factor: 2.363