Ultrasonography of the peripheral nervous system in the early stage of Guillain‐Barré syndrome

The objective of this study was to prove the role of ultrasonography in acute phase of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Systematic ultrasonic measurements of several peripheral nerves including the vagal nerve as well as the 6th cervical nerve root were performed in 18 patients with GBS at day 1–3 after symptom onset and compared to 21 healthy controls. Nerve conduction studies of corresponding nerves were undertaken. Consequently, significant differences between the groups were found in compound muscle action potential amplitudes, distal motor latency, F‐wave latency and persistency. Ultrasonic cross‐sectional areas showed significant enlargement in all nerves except of the ulnar nerve (upper arm) and the sural nerve compared to healthy controls, most prominent in proximal and middle median nerve (p < 0.01). The vagal nerve also showed enlargement compared to controls (p < 0.05), which was most pronounced in patients with autonomic dysfunction compared to patients without (p < 0.05). C6 root diameter showed a significant correlation to the amount of CSF‐protein (Pearson correlation, p <0.05). Ultrasonography shows nerve enlargement in several peripheral nerves including vagal nerve and C6 root in acute phase of GBS and could be an additional diagnostic tool, e.g., in GBS of atypical onset and autonomic dysfunction.

Source: Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System - June 1, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Alexander Grimm, Bernhard Decard, Hubertus Axer Tags: RESEARCH REPORT Source Type: research