Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neuromuscular condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves of the peripheral nervous system – nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. GBS can cause sensory abnormalities such as tingling in the hands and feet, loss of body reflexes, loss of motor functioning, paralysis and even death.

Scientists are not yet sure what causes GBS. More than half of all patients with GBS reported having a recent bacterial or viral infection. Recent studies also have suggested a link between the bacterium Campylobacter and GBS. In rare cases, GBS has been reported in people who recently have received certain vaccines. However, this link has not been clearly established. Other medical conditions or situations (e.g., recent surgery) have also been associated with GBS.

The first symptoms associated with GBS often include general weakness and tingling in the legs. This may quickly progress to a loss of reflexes and temporary paralysis that usually begins in the feet and legs and ascends to the arms and hands. If muscle weakness or paralysis affects the breathing muscles and heart, life-threatening complications may develop. In very rare cases, patients may remain permanently paralyzed.

Most patients with GBS recover with little or no loss of mobility. Some patients may take as long as a year to recover. Persistent weakness may linger for more than three years in about 30 percent of patients, according to the National Institutes of Health. Some patients with GBS may experience a relapse.

Symptom severity and duration can vary significantly from person to person. The signs and symptoms of GBS are similar to those of other neurological disorders and may make an accurate diagnosis difficult.

Although there is no way to definitively diagnose GBS, three different tests are often used to help make a GBS diagnosis. These include electromyography (measures the electrical activity of a muscle in response to nerve stimulation), nerve conduction velocity tests (measures the speed of signals along the nerve) and a spinal tap (determines the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid and helps reveal other signs of illness).

There are no known preventive methods for GBS. Sometimes GBS may be cured with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasmapheresis. However, most treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms and reducing the duration of the illness. Many patients diagnosed with GBS are hospitalized and their conditions closely monitored because the progression of the disease can become suddenly and unexpectedly severe.