What are the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome is familiar to many people. It is a common autoimmune disease in clinical practice, which is more common among young and middle-aged men. The symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome are also multifaceted, and patients may experience sensory impairment.

1. Guillain-Barré syndrome autonomic dysfunction: In the early or recovery period, there is often excessive sweating and a strong sweat odor, which may be the result of stimulation of the sympathetic nerves. A small number of patients may have short-term urinary retention in the early stages, which may be caused by temporary dysfunction of the autonomic nerves that control the bladder or damage to the spinal nerves that control the external sphincter; the stool is often constipated; some patients may experience unstable blood pressure, tachycardia and abnormal electrocardiogram.

2. Cranial nerve symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome: Half of the patients have cranial nerve damage, most commonly peripheral paralysis of the tongue, pharyngeal, vagus nerve and one or both facial nerves. Next are the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves. Optic disc edema is occasionally seen, which may be caused by inflammatory changes in the optic nerve itself or brain edema. It may also be related to a significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid protein, which blocks the arachnoid villi and affects cerebrospinal fluid absorption.

3. Guillain-Barré syndrome movement disorder: limb and trunk muscle paralysis is the main symptom of this disease. It usually starts from the lower limbs and gradually spreads to the trunk muscles, upper limbs and cranial nerves, and can spread from one side to the other. The disease usually reaches its peak within 1 to 2 weeks. The paralysis is generally more severe proximally than distally, with low muscle tone. If breathing, swallowing and pronunciation are affected, it may cause paralysis of spontaneous breathing, difficulty in swallowing and pronunciation, and endanger life.

4. Guillain-Barré syndrome sensory impairment: Generally mild, often starting with numbness and tingling at the ends of the limbs. There may also be a stocking-like decrease in sensation, loss of sensation, or hypersensitivity, as well as spontaneous pain, with tenderness being more pronounced in the gastrocnemius and anterior wall muscle angle. Segmental or tract sensory disturbances may occasionally be seen.