Abstract

The possibility that some patients diagnosed with an acute sensory neuropathy could actually have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been repeatedly advanced in the literature, but the number of cases reported is small. The reports have shown different clinical presentations and electrophysiological findings and are variously named, thus generating terminological and nosological confusion. We operatively defined sensory GBS as an acute, monophasic, widespread neuropathy characterized clinically by exclusive sensory symptoms and signs that reach their nadir in a maximum of 6 weeks without related systemic disorders and other diseases or conditions. We reviewed the literature through searches of PubMed from 1980 to March 2011 and our own files. On the basis of the size of fibers involved and the possible site of primary damage, we propose tentatively classifying sensory GBS and related disorders into three subtypes: acute sensory demyelinating polyneuropathy; acute sensory large-fiber axonopathy-ganglionopathy; and acute sensory small-fiber neuropathy-ganglionopathy.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Uncini A, Yuki N

Institution

Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, CH-6900 Lugano, Switzerland. uncini@unich.it

Source

Muscle & nerve 45:4 2012 Apr pg 464-70

MeSH

Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic
Autopsy
Axons
Cell Size
Demyelinating Diseases
Diagnosis, Differential
Ganglia, Sensory
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Humans
Nerve Fibers
Sensation Disorders
Sensory Receptor Cells
Terminology as Topic

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22431077