Electrophysiological subtypes and prognosis of childhood Guillain-Barre syndrome in Japan

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is classified into acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), but little is known about the incidence of the subtypes and the prognosis of childhood GBS. To elucidate the features and longterm prognosis, clinical and electrophysiological data for 31 Japanese GBS children were reviewed. By electrodiagnostic criteria, children were classified as having AIDP (35%) or AMAN (48%), or were unclassified (16%). The AMAN children invariably had normal sensory nerve potentials. Between the two groups, age, sex, and clinical disability did not differ significantly, but the AIDP children more frequently had cranial and sensory nerve involvement, and the AMAN children more frequently had preceding gastroenteritis. By 6 months after onset, all the AIDP and 80% of the AMAN children had regained the ability to walk; by 2 years, all but one of the AMAN children could walk. In Japanese childhood GBS, the proportion of AIDP and AMAN appears to be similar. Recovery is generally favorable in both subtypes, but some of the AMAN children experienced delayed recovery.