Abstract
Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) at the Neurology Center of Bach Mai Hospital.
Subject: We selected 54 patients who were diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome from July 1, 2024, to June 31, 2025, at Bach Mai Hospital.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study.
Results:
The study included 54 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, with a mean age of 51.2 years; males accounted for 55.6%. The most commonly affected age groups were over 60 years and 31–40 years. The most frequent antecedent event was respiratory tract infection (38.9%), with onset of neurological symptoms occurring within 6 weeks post-infection. The most common initial clinical manifestations were limb weakness (75.9%), cranial nerve palsy (20.4%), and dizziness (14.8%). The mean Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength score was 44.3 at admission, decreased to 34.7 during the acute phase, and improved to 50.1 at discharge. Albuminocytologic dissociation in CSF was observed in 81.4% of patients. The findings highlight that limb weakness is the predominant clinical feature, and albuminocytologic dissociation is a key paraclinical marker in the diagnosis of GBS.
Conclusion:
This study suggests that Guillain-Barré syndrome tends to occur more frequently in males than females. The most common initial symptoms are tetraparesis and cranial nerve involvement. Albuminocytologic dissociation in CSF was present in the majority of cases, reaffirming the diagnostic value of CSF analysis. Most patients experienced a favorable clinical course and good recovery following treatment, underscoring the effectiveness of current therapeutic interventions.