Guillain-Barré syndrome: historical aspects.

Historical aspects of the Guillain-Barré syndrome are traced from its first clear description in 1916. Emphasis is placed on the swine flu incident of 1976 and 1977. Although Guillain-Barré syndrome is a descriptive clinical entity with relatively widely accepted diagnostic criteria, it lacks nosological delimitation. The topography, pathological features, pathophysiology, and prognostic features are well understood, but the immunopathogenesis of the disease remains uncertain.