Prognosis

Approximately one quarter of severely-affected patients require ventilatory support.

Even with IVIG or PE, one fifth of those severely affected remain unable to walk at six months.

Prognosis can be predicted from the acute stage of the disease, based on:

• Increasing patient age
• Severity of disability
• History of preceding diarrhoea

These are all poor prognostic factors.

Learning bite

GBS is fatal in 3-10% of cases. The cause of death is multifactorial.