Plasmapheresis in the treatment of four cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute form).

Four patients with GBs were treated by PE. In all cases the treatment was successful in that it halted the progression of the disease, induced regression of the signs of bulbar impairment, ventilatory failure and cranial nerve paralysis and improved motility. In all instances the response was quicker for the nerves affected last. Our results confirm that PE is probably the only pathogenetic therapy that can be offered to GBs patients, especially since it can halt the progression of the disease and dramatically shorten its course. It is noteworthy that clinical benefit correlates strongly with removal of large quantities of circulating immune complexes.