Treatments for Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Treatment list for Guillain-Barre Syndrome: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Guillain-Barre Syndrome includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• Emergency treatment - when respiratory paralysis occurs it can be very dangerous.
• Respiratory support
• Mechanical ventilation
• Tracheotomy
• Heart monitor
• Plasmapheresis
• High-dose immunoglobulin therapy
• Fluid level maintenance
• Salt level corrections - if needed
• Pain relief
• Heat - for pain relief
• Rehabilitation
• Massage
• Physiotherapy
• Muscle exercises
• Joint exercises

Treatments of Guillain-Barre Syndrome discussion: There is no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but therapies can lessen the severity of the illness and accelerate the recovery in most patients. There are also a number of ways to treat the complications of the disease. Currently, plasmapheresis and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy are used. Plasmapheresis seems to reduce the severity and duration of the Guillain-Barré episode. In high-dose immunoglobulin therapy, doctors give intravenous injections of the proteins that in small quantities, the immune system uses naturally to attack invading organism. Investigators have found that giving high doses of these immunoglobulins, derived from a pool of thousands of normal donors, to Guillain-Barré patients can lessen the immune attack on the nervous system. The most critical part of the treatment for this syndrome consists of keeping the patient's body functioning during recovery of the nervous system. This can sometimes require placing the patient on a respirator, a heart monitor, or other machines that assist body function. ¹

There is no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but it will usually go away with time. There are therapies that can lessen the severity of the symptoms and accelerate the recovery in most patients. There are also a number of ways to treat the complications of the disease. Currently, plasmapheresis and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy are used. Plasmapheresis is a procedure in which abnormal antibodies are removed from the blood, which seems to reduce the severity and duration of the Guillain-Barré episode. Intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin therapy temporarily modifies the immune system and provides the body with normal antibodies from donated blood. The most critical part of treatment for this syndrome consists of keeping the patient's body functioning during recovery of the nervous system. This can sometimes require placing the patient on a respirator, a heart monitor, or other machines that assist body function.²

Guillain-Barre syndrome patients face not only physical difficulties, but emotionally difficult events as well. It is often extremely difficult for patients to adjust to sudden paralysis and dependence on others for help with routine daily activities. Patients sometimes need psychological counseling to help them adapt.²

Supportive care until the condition is stabilized, then rehabilitation therapy combined with whirlpool baths to relieve pain and facilitate retraining of movements. A process called plasmapheresis, which removes plasma and nerve­damaging antibodies from the blood, is used during the first few weeks after a severe attack and may improve the chance of a full recovery. ³

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from NINDS Guillain-Barre Syndrome Information Page: NINDS
2. excerpt from Guillain-Barre Syndrome: NWHIC
3. excerpt from Neuromuscular Diseases: NWHIC

Last revision: May 28, 2003

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