With an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people in the U.S. developing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) every year1, GBS is a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its own nerves causing muscle weakness and sometimes complete paralysis. It’s most common between ages 30-50, though onset can happen at any age.2
Though the cause of GBS is not fully understood, two-thirds of patients report a viral or bacterial infection in the weeks prior to GBS symptoms—typically gastrointestinal or respiratory. Evidence suggests that this infection triggers the immune response which damages the myelin sheath that protects the nerves, leading to numbness and weakness. Most people recover fully from GBS and are able to walk within 6 months to two years of when symptoms began. However, some have lasting effects, and for some, the disease can be fatal.3
Signs and Symptoms
Early signs of GBS often include a rapid onset of tingling, weakness, and numbness that start in the feet and legs and spread to the upper body. Some people notice these symptoms first in their arms or face. While initial weakness may be mild, symptoms can progress rapidly over just a few days. Additional signs and symptoms may include:
Difficulty raising a foot or walking without assistance
Paralysis or the loss of ability to move one’s legs, arms, breathing muscles, and face
Paralysis that travels up the limbs from fingers and toes towards the torso
Loss of reflexes such as the knee jerk
Pain in the muscles
Blurred vision
Difficulty swallowing or chewing
Difficulty speaking
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Low or high blood pressure
Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function
Rapid heart rate
It’s important to note that not all patients with GBS experience paralysis. Some with mild cases may just experience tingling and weakness throughout their body.
Treatment Options
For some with mild symptoms, no treatment is necessary. For most new cases of GBS, however, patients need to be hospitalized. To monitor breathing and other body functions, patients are typically admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care) until the condition is stabilized. Although there is no cure for GBS, immune-suppressing treatments can prevent breathing problems and relieve symptoms by reducing the inflammation caused by the immune system’s response to the disease. Both plasmapheresis (plasma exchange) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are used to treat GBS, and IVIG suppresses the inflammatory response.
Derived from thousands of healthy blood plasma donations, immunoglobulin therapy can help suppress an overactive immune system by preventing it from attacking healthy cells. Immunoglobulin given intravenously, or through a vein, is called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
Helpful Resources
The GBS/CIDP Foundation International provides support and resources for GBS patients and their families. Some of these resources include:
Local community groups and chapter meetings
Community forums
GPS educational webinars and conferences
Rehabilitation guide for caregivers
How BioMatrix Can Help
Though a GBS diagnosis can feel overwhelming for you or a loved one, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Organizations like GBS/CIDP Foundation International mentioned above can provide a wealth of information and support as well as connect you to others in the community who have experienced the same diagnosis. In addition, your specialty pharmacy can offer individualized support to help manage treatment.
BioMatrix helps manage the individual needs of patients requiring IVIG therapy. Knowledgeable pharmacists and care coordination staff guide each patient through the potential medication side effects and, working with the prescribing physician, help manage treatment to reduce the prevalence and severity of relapses.
The BioMatrix clinical team includes compassionate nurses who have extensive training and experience with rare diseases, infusion therapies, and complex medical conditions. Our nurses work together with patients, caregivers, pharmacists, and prescribers to coordinate the optimal site of care, conduct nursing interventions, and provide patient education.
Learn more about our individualized specialty pharmacy services for patients with GPS and other neurological conditions.
Insurance Appeal Letter Sample & Template
Have you been denied insurance coverage for much needed treatment? Use this appeal letter template as a guide to help you or a loved one appeal insurance claim denials.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider or as legal advice. Please consult a physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here or on our website.
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References
(2023). Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Vaccines. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/guillain-barre-syndrome.html
Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Mount Sinai Today Blog. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/guillain-barr-syndrome
(2022). Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/guillain-barre-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20362793
