How To Diagnose And Treat Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune condition. This rare disorder seems to involve the patient's immune system attacking their nervous system. The symptoms of this syndrome may start with tingling and weakness in the patient's extremities. This can likely spread throughout their body. Some patients may experience paralysis. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an exact cause of this condition. However, some patients have reported having had an infection within six weeks of their first symptoms. This appears to apply to more than half of Guillain-Barre syndrome patients.

There seems to be no Guillain-Barre syndrome cure. However, patients may be able to find various ways to treat it. A trip to the hospital may be a fairly standard part of Guillain-Barre syndrome treatment. Many experts consider a severe case as a medical emergency. After the hospital treatment, natural remedies for Guillain-Barre syndrome can be included. This seems to include physical therapy. Of course, the condition must be diagnosed first.

Electromyography

After a physical exam, one of the first tests to diagnose this condition appears to be an electromyography test. This should help with all conditions that can affect the nerves and muscles. The results seem to provide doctors with a detailed view of the strength of the patient's nerve and muscle connections. This test should be able to help doctors narrow the cause of the issue.

These tests should measure motor neuron activity. Motor neurons should cause muscle contractions. Patients will likely have needles inserted into their muscles. There can be electrodes in these needles, which should record electrical activity. The electrodes should turn the pulses into graphs for specialists to read and interpret. This test may also include a nerve conduction study. This should mean that doctors place electrodes against the patient's skin.

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Lumbar Puncture

Doctors may also use a lumbar puncture to diagnose Guillain-Barre syndrome in their patients. This test usually means removing a sample of spinal fluid from their patient's lower back. This can be done by inserting a hollow needle into the skin on their back and guiding it to their spine. This is where doctors are going to find cerebrospinal fluid. When doctors remove some fluid, they may be able to send it for tests. Specialists should look for the specific changes that occur in Guillain-Barre syndrome patients. This fluid sample may also be used to rule out other nerve disorders. They can also choose to measure spinal fluid pressure at the same time to detect an issue such as hydrocephalus.

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Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis may also be called plasma exchange. This treatment should separate plasma from blood cells. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood, and the cells are the solid portion. When the two have been separated, doctors should add saline or albumin to the blood cells. This should help the blood mix back into the patient's body.

When the blood is delivered back to the patient, their body should create more plasma. The plasma that it creates should be free of harmful antibodies. Thus, it should reduce symptom severity. This treatment may work on patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome because the harmful antibodies are often in their plasma. Thus, taking their compromised plasma away should stop the attack on their nerves. Although it may not cure this condition, it can help slow its progression.

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Immunoglobulin Therapy

Immunoglobulin therapy seems to help Guillain-Barre syndrome patients manage some of their symptoms. It should include patients receiving donated blood through an intravenous line. Patients should receive healthy antibodies from the donated blood. These healthy antibodies may be able to block the damaging ones from attacking the patient's nerves. This seems to reduce the severity of a patient's symptoms. Doctors, though, do not appear to call this treatment a cure.

Although this treatment is offered subcutaneously, this is not common for Guillain-Barre syndrome patients. They seem to require faster delivery in a hospital. Thus, it can mean that immunoglobulin therapy needs to be delivered intravenously. The other delivery method can be done at home. However, it seems to take longer to enter the blood and circulate throughout the body.

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Physical Therapy

It appears that most individuals will recover from this condition. However, they need some assistance during recovery to hopefully regain most of their mobility. This can mean undergoing physical therapy during the illness and after symptoms have begun to subside. While patients have this syndrome, they should have their doctors and caregivers carefully move their arms and legs. Doing so should help keep their muscles flexible and strong as much as possible. Formal physical therapy may also be needed. This therapy should provide patients with strengthening exercises. The exercises may also increase their endurance. It may also be helpful for ongoing fatigue.