Causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. The disorder can develop over the course of hours or days, or it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. ¹

GBS can probably result following a number of bacterial and viral infections. Campylobacter jejuni induced diarrheal disease is most often recognized as the precedent infection. ²

Triggers list for Guillain-Barre Syndrome: The list of triggers mentioned in source as possible causal factors for Guillain-Barre Syndrome includes:

Respiratory infection
Gastrointestinal infection
Campylobacter jejuni infection - most common digestive infection precursor associated with GBS.
Pregnancy
Surgery
Vaccinations

Cause details for Guillain-Barre Syndrome: In about two-thirds of cases, GBS is preceded a few days or weeks by a mild respiratory or intestinal infection. The organism most commonly proven to be associated with the development of GBS is Campylobacter jejuni. C. jejuni has become the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the developed world and is often acquired by ingestion of infected poultry products. GBS is thought to arise as a result of the production of antibody to bacterial sugar-containing surface antigen(s) that, due to molecular mimicry, cross-react with the myelin sheath and the axons of nerve cells. The ganglioside GM1 on nerve fibers seems to be a target for these antibodies, although other gangliosides may also be involved. Antibody and/or cell mediated immune reactions are believed to produce degeneration of the nerve or interruption of neurotransmission.²

No one yet knows why Guillain-Barre strikes some people and not others. Nor does anyone know exactly what triggers the disease. What scientists do know is that the body’s immune system goes awry and instead of attacking only foreign material and invading organisms, it begins to destroy the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of many peripheral nerves. The myelin sheath speeds up the transmission of nerve signals. As this protective sheath disappears, signals slow and senses (heat, pain) decrease. ³

Underlying condition causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome: The list of possible underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome) mentioned in various sources as possible causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome includes:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome as a complication: Other conditions that might have Guillain-Barre Syndrome as a complication might be potential underlying causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The list of conditions listing Guillain-Barre Syndrome as a complication in our database includes:

Related information for causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Further relevant information on causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome may be found in the risk factors for Guillain-Barre Syndrome and underlying causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from NINDS Guillain-Barre Syndrome Information Page: NINDS
2. excerpt from NIAID Guillain Barre Fact Sheet: NIAID
3. excerpt from Guillain-Barre Syndrome: NWHIC

Last revision: May 28, 2003

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