Incidence and mortality rates of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Serbia.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute auto-immune polyradiculoneuropathy. A huge variety of GBS incidence and mortality rates has been noted across the world. The objective of the present multi-centric study was to assess the incidence and mortality rates of GBS during a 10-year period in Serbia. We collected data of adult GBS patients who were hospitalized from 2009 to 2018 in all five tertiary healthcare centers in Serbia. The incidence rates per 100 000 inhabitants with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and further corrected for the estimated number of patients hospitalized in secondary centers. Mortality rates were also assessed. GBS was considered severe if patients were not able to walk at least 10 m without assistance. Six hundred and forty GBS patients were registered in tertiary centers in a 10-year period. The proportion of severe cases was 75% at nadir, and 52% on discharge. GBS incidence rate in Serbia was 1.1 per 100 000 inhabitants, and estimated incidence if patients from secondary centers included 1.2 per 100 000. Peak incidence was observed during the sixth decade of life. During the acute phase, 5.6% of GBS patients died, while overall 9.7% of them died during 6-month period from disease onset. This study contributes to our knowledge about GBS epidemiology. Results will allow us to improve the diagnosis and treatment of GBS patients in Serbia.

Employment status of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

It has been previously shown that patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) who are unemployed or retired have worse quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess predictors of early retirement in CIDP. One hundred five patients with CIDP were included. Following measures were used: questionnaire on employment status, Medical Research Council Sum Score, INCAT disability score, Beck Depression Inventory, and Krupp's Fatigue Severity Scale. At the moment of testing, 2% of patients were students, 15% were employed, 9% were unemployed due to CIDP, 9% were unemployed but not due to CIDP, 28% were retired early due to disability caused by CIDP, and finally 37% were in old-age pension. Mean age when patients retired due to CIDP was 50 ± 8 years. Mean time from CIDP onset to retirement was 2.7 ± 2.3 years. Older age at onset, lower education, and more severe weakness at the time of diagnosis were significant predictors of early retirement due to CIDP. Retired patients were 12 times more likely to suffer from depression, compared to employed patients (OR = 12.2, 95% CI = 1.41-100, P < 0.01), and eight times more likely to have fatigue (OR = 8.2, 95% CI = 1.89-35.82, P < 0.01). Older patients with lower education and more severe weakness at the time of diagnosis were most likely retired due to CIDP. Early retirement was associated with depression and fatigue. Therefore, maintaining employment should be an important aim in the management of CIDP patients.

Three-Year Follow-Up Study in Patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

A majority of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have tendency of a good recovery. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of the disease 1 and 3 years after GBS symptom onset. METHODS: During 2014, GBS was diagnosed in 82 patients in seven tertiary healthcare centers. Neurological follow-up was conducted in 57 (70%) patients after 1 year, and in 54 (66%) after 3 years. Functional disability was estimated according to the GBS disability scale (GDS), with a score of 0-3 indicating mild disability and a score of 4-6 indicating severe disability during acute phase, whereas a score >1 indicated poor recovery on follow-ups. Visual analog scale was used to assess sensory symptoms and musculoskelatal pain, and Krupp's Fatigue Severity Scale was used to asses fatigue. RESULTS: Poor functional outcome was found in 39% of GBS patients at year 1 and 30% at year 3. Paresthesias/dysesthesias were detected in 60% of patients after 1 year and 43% after 3 years. Musculoskeletal pain was present in 40% of patients at year 1 and 33% at year 3. Significant fatigue after 1 year was found in 21% of subjects and after 3 years in 7%. Parameters associated with poor functional outcome after 1 year were age >55 years (p=0.05), severe disability at admission (p1 indique une récupération difficile au moment des suivis. L'échelle visuelle analogue (EVA) a aussi été utilisée pour évaluer leurs symptômes sensoriels et leurs douleurs musculo-squelettiques. Enfin, l'échelle de gravité de la fatigue de Krupp a été utilisée pour évaluer leur degré de fatigue. Résultats: La première année, on a observé une piètre amélioration des capacités fonctionnelles chez 39% des patients atteints du SGB; pour la troisième année, cette proportion était de 30%. Au bout d'un an, on a aussi détecté la présence de paresthésie/dysesthésie chez 60% des patients; pour la troisième année, cette proportion était de 43%. Des douleurs musculo-squelettiques ont été rapportées chez 40% des patients après un an; deux ans plus tard, ce pourcentage chutait à 33%. Enfin, un état de fatigue important a été noté chez 21% des patients au bout d'un an; ce pourcentage n'était plus que de 7% au bout de trois ans. Les paramètres associés à une piètre amélioration des capacités fonctionnelles au bout d'un an étaient l'âge (>55 ans; p=0,05) ainsi qu'une incapacité sévère au moment de leur admission (p<0,05) et de leur congé (p<0,01). Au bout de trois ans, une piètre amélioration des capacités fonctionnelles était associée au sexe masculin (p<0,05) et à une incapacité sévère au moment d'obtenir un congé (p=0,06). CONCLUSIONS: Un an et trois ans après l'apparition des premiers symptômes du SGB, un nombre important de patients donnaient à voir des séquelles neurologiques, ce qui incluait une forme ou une autre d'incapacité fonctionnelle, des symptômes sensoriels, des douleurs et un état de fatigue.

Clinical and epidemiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Western Balkans.

The aim of this study was to define features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in a large cohort of patients from three Western Balkans countries. Data from adult Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases from 2009 to 2013 were retrospectively obtained from all tertiary health care centers. During the 5-year period, 327 new cases of GBS were identified with a male to female ratio of 1.7 : 1. The most common GBS variants were demyelinating (65%) and axonal (12%). At nadir 45% of patients were chair-bound, confined to bed, or required assisted ventilation, while 5% died. The crude incidence of GBS in Serbia and Montenegro was 0.93 per 100,000 population, and age-adjusted incidence according to the world standard population was 0.86 per 100,000. Incidence was particularly high in 50- to 80-year-old men. Statistically significant seasonal variations of GBS were not observed. This study of patients with GBS in the Western Balkans allows us to prepare the health system better and to improve the management of patients. This study also opens opportunities for international collaboration and for taking part in the multinational studies on GBS.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Followed by Covid-19 Infection, Vaccination and Other Precipitating Factors during the Pandemic.

Background and Aims: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is usually triggered by an infection. Vaccination is mentioned as a possible trigger in a small number of GBS cases. The aim of this study was to notice GBS distinctness provoked by various triggers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: A total of 109 GBS patients were divided into three groups, respectively: COVID-19 infection associated (19 patients), COVID-19 vaccination associated (16 patients) and precipitated by some other factors (74 patients). We compared the clinical, neurophysiological and laboratory characteristics of these three groups. Results: Neither were differences recorded in the age of the patients of these three groups at the time of illness, nor in the number of days from the precipitating factor to the onset of symptoms. There were no clinical differences between groups related to severity of the disease or patients' recovery. The only clinical difference was observed in relation to facial nerve bilateral affection because it was significantly higher in the post-vaccination group. According to neurophysiological findings, demyelinating form dominated in all three groups. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics, electrophysiological findings and laboratory characteristics did not differ significantly in Guillain-Barre syndrome followed by COVID-19 infection, vaccination and other precipitating factors during the pandemic. The bilateral involvement of facial nerves was significantly higher in the post-vaccination group. Most of these cases had a mild form of the disorder-distal paresthesias GBS variant.

Disability and quality of life in Guillain-Barré syndrome - Longitudinal study.

Longitudinal health-related quality of life (QoL) data in Guillain-Barré (GBS) patients are still scarce. We, therefore, investigated health- related QoL in GBS patients from Serbia and surrounding countries during a six-month follow-up period, and analyzed its association with patients' disability. Our study comprised 74 adult patients diagnosed with GBS from May 2017 until May 2018 in seven tertiary healthcare centers. Health-related QoL was investigated using the SF-36 questionnaire, and compared with functional disability assessed by the GBS disability scale (GDS). Tests were performed at day 14, day 28, month 3 and month 6 from disease onset. GDS and SF-36 scores improved over time (p < 0.01). GDS scores were different at all four time points, while SF-36 did not differ between day 14 and day 28. Pooled SF-36 scores (especially physical ones) correlated with pooled GDS scores, except for Bodily Pain and Role Emotional scores. We found that GDS score at day 14 was an independent predictor of GDS score at month 6 (ß = +0.52, p < 0.01), while SF-36 score at day 14 was an independent predictor of SF-36 score at month 6 (ß = +0.51, p < 0.01). Neurologists should look not only on disability but also on QoL in GBS patients, since these two measures provide us with important complementary items of information.

Quality of life predictors in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic disease which can lead to many functional impairments, and like most other chronic disorders it might significantly affect quality of life (QoL). Information about QoL in patients with CIDP from developing countries is still lacking. We, therefore, sought to complete these data mosaic by investigating QoL in patients with CIDP from Serbia and surrounding countries. Our study comprised 106 patients diagnosed with CIDP. QoL was investigated using the Serbian version of the SF-36 questionnaire. The Medical Research Council 0-5 point scale, INCAT motor and sensory scores, Krupp's Fatigue Severity Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory were also used. Factors that significantly correlated with SF-36 total score in univariate analysis were included in the multiple linear regression analysis. Physical domains of the SF-36 were more affected than mental, and the overall score was 56.6 ± 25.4. Significant predictors of worse SF-36 score in our patients with CIDP were severe fatigue (ß = - 0.331, p < 0.01), higher INCAT motor score (ß = - 0.301, p < 0.01), depression (ß = - 0.281, p < 0.01), being unemployed/retired (ß = - 0.188, p < 0.05), and shorter duration of CIDP (ß = + 0.133, p < 0.01). QoL was reduced in CIDP patients, especially in physical domains. Patients with presence of fatigue and depression, with more severe motor disability, unemployed/retired ones, and those with shorter duration of the disease need special attention of clinicians since they could be at higher risk to have worse QoL.

Concordance of clinical and neurophysiologic diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome.

INTRODUCTION/AIM: Clinical presentation and neurophysiological examination are crucial in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination for diagnosing of CTS in relation to neurophysiological evaluation. METHODS: The sample included 181 patients referred to the eurologist for further diagnosis of pain and parestesias in the arm (81 women and 100 men mean age 42 ± 14 years and 52 ± 16 years, respectively). All the patients were neurophysiologicly tested. RESULTS: Out of 181 patients, clinical findings were considered positive for CTS in 37 patients. The neurophysiological findings for CTS were positive in 60 patients. Both clinical and neurophysiological findings were positive in 31 patients and both findings were negative in 115 patients (sensitivity 0.51; specificity 0.95). CONCLUSION: Low sensitivity and high specificity suggest that it is easier to exclude rather than to accurately diagnose CTS based on clinical examination alone. Thus, there is the need for neurophysiological evaluation of patients with complains in the arm.

Recurrent herpes zoster with segmental paresis and postherpetic neuralgia.

INTRODUCTION: Postherpetic neuralgia and segmental paresis represent rare complications of herpes zoster infection. Recurrent herpes zoster is also rare and occurs within the first 3 years of the beginning of the illness in only 1.40% of cases but it is generally higher in cases of chronic lymphatic leukemia (3.5%). CASE REPORT: We presented a patient with lymphatic leukemia who during the remission had 3 episodes of herpes zoster over a year. All of them took different parts of the body. One of these episodes was complicated by postherpetic neuralgia and segmental paresis. A complete recovery was seen in all the three episodes. CONCLUSION: As immunosuppression is one of mechanisms of virus reactivation, it is likely associated with the described rare complications of herpes zoster.

Effects of perineural steroid injections on median nerve conduction during the carpal tunnel release.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The treatment outcome of the median nerve compressive neuropathy in the carpal zone due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is represented by recovering the nerves sensibility, conductivity, condition and strength. Perineural application of betamethasone during the surgical decompression might result in faster recovery of compressed median nerve's conduction speed. METHODS: In this study 40 patients with CTS were randomly divided in the two groups. In the first group (n = 20) we performed the surgical decompression of the median nerve by the open release of the carpal tunnel, and in the second group (n = 20) we applicated a perineural injection of 1 ml of betamethason immediately after the surgical decompression. We performed the electrodiagnostic (ED) examinations 7, 30 and 90 days after the surgery, and measured the conduction speed of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel zone and the sensitivity conduction speed of the median nerve. RESULTS: Significant differences in examined ED respective variable values in different time intervals were obtained. At the final measurements, 90 days after the surgical procedure, both groups evidenced a full recovery of the conduction speed in the carpal tunnel with statistically significant better results in the second group of the patients (t = -2.116; p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative application of the corticosteroid injection during the surgical decompression results in faster regaining of conduction speed of the median nerve.

Recurrence of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome after a long asymptomatic interval: a case report.

We present a patient who rapidly developed flaccid paralysis in all 4 limbs on 2 separate occasions 19 years apart. Each episode was accompanied by a respiratory failure that required intubation. Both times, clinical response to immunotherapy was favorable with a near complete recovery. Clinical course, laboratory and electrodiagnostic findings, and favorable response to therapy suggest 2 separate attacks of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The reported case adds to a small series of cases of recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome after a long asymptomatic period. In such cases, the distinction from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy should be made.