Summary

guillean_barre_syndrome is an acute_autoimmune_neuropathy that often follows a viral or bacterial infection. It causes rapidly progressive, symmetric ascending_weakness, numbness or paresthesias, and areflexia. Possible autonomic_dysfunction and respiratory_failure_risk. Classic CSF finding is albuminocytologic_dissociation. Nerve studies show demyelination. Main treatments are ivig or plasmapheresis. Variants include aidp, aman, and amsan. Progression happens over days to weeks, then a plateau and recovery in most patients.