Risk Factors, Presentation, Diagnosis and Management of Guillain Barré Syndrome in Sana'a City, Yemen: A Ten Years Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system and presents with an ascending flaccid paralysis. With undetermined etiology, it seems that GBS had an immune process following either a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the total number, clinical features, and associated risk factors of Guillain-Barré syndrome among patients at the University of Science and Technology Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective medical record-based study was conducted at the University of Science and Technology Hospital for ten years (2014-2023) in Sana’a city. Data were collected using a predesigned data sheet containing sociodemographic, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools. Data was analyzed by SPSS v. 24.0.

Results: Two hundred fifty-six files recorded as Guillain-Barré Syndrome were analyzed; the mean age was 38.65 ± 19.8 years. Age ranged between 2 and 85 years. There was a male predominance (69.9%), with the most prevalent presentation being bilateral ascending paralysis (47.7%). The majority of patients received physiotherapy alone (43.0%), while IVIG was used in 40.6% of cases.

Conclusion: GBS is a peripheral neuropathy disease with the common presentation of ascending flaccid paralysis, but uncommon presentations are not rare, which recommends a high clinical suspicion, especially for the wide range of ages and the occurrence in an area of poliomyelitis infection spread.