ABSTRACT
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. It is the commonest cause of acute generalised flaccid paralysis and has an incidence of 1-2 per 100000 population per annum. Around 70% of cases occur after an infection, usually viral, that often comprises a short-lived flu-like illness. It may occur following recently acquired HIV, after infection with CMV, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis or infectious mononucleosis. It may also occur after Campylobacter jejuni enteritis, a feature that carries a worse prognosis. It is likely that immune responses directed towards the infecting organisms cross-react with ganglioside surface components of peripheral nerves.
