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GBS is autoimmune, but no single specific diagnostic autoantibody
Some forms (e.g., Miller Fisher syndrome) may involve:
Anti-GQ1b antibodies
Anti-GM1 or GD1a antibodies (in certain variants)
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves). This leads to muscle weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis, usually starting in the legs and spreading upward.
Most people develop GBS after an infection, such as the flu, a stomach virus, or COVID-19. GBS is considered a medical emergency, but most people recover with proper care.
Tingling or numbness in the feet and hands
Muscle weakness, starting in the legs and moving upward
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
Loss of reflexes
Difficulty breathing (in severe cases)
Facial weakness or difficulty speaking/swallowing
Pain (especially in the back or limbs)
Rapid progression—symptoms often worsen over days to weeks
The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but GBS is believed to occur when the immune system attacks the myelin sheath or nerve axons by mistake—often after a recent illness.
Common triggers include:
Infections (most common):
Campylobacter jejuni (a stomach bacteria)
Influenza
Epstein-Barr virus
Zika virus
COVID-19
Vaccines (rarely, e.g., flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine)
Surgery or trauma
GBS is diagnosed through:
Neurological exam (to assess muscle strength and reflexes)
Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) – elevated protein in cerebrospinal fluid
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies – show slowed signals
Blood tests to rule out other causes
There’s no cure, but early treatment can greatly improve outcomes:
IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) – blocks the damaging immune response
Plasmapheresis (plasma exchange) – filters harmful antibodies from the blood
Pain relievers and supportive care
Physical therapy during recovery
Respiratory support (in severe cases requiring ventilation)
Most people begin to recover within 2–4 weeks after symptoms peak
80–90% recover fully or with minor weakness
Some may have long-term nerve damage or fatigue
Recovery may take months to years, depending on severity
Relapses are rare, but possible
Affects about 1–2 in 100,000 people per year
Can occur at any age, but more common in adults over 50
Slightly more common in males
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (2023). Guillain-Barré Syndrome Fact Sheet.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/gbssyndrome
CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Vaccines.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/guillain-barre-syndrome.html
Mayo Clinic. (2023). Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/guillain-barre-syndrome
Yuki, N., & Hartung, H. P. (2012). Guillain–Barré syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(24), 2294–2304.
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1114525
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