Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), is a common post-infectious polyradiculoneuropathy worldwide. The commonest implicated causative organism the world over is
Campylobacter jejuni
(
C. jejuni). This study was carried out to determine the relationship between
C. jejuni infection and GBS in an Indian setting.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out on a cohort of 50 patients with GBS who were treated in a tertiary care hospital in India. Based on electrophysiological findings the patients were divided into various subtypes. Serology for
C. jejuni (Immunoglogulin G, IgG and Immunoglogulin, IgM) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA) was done both in patients and 40 age, sex and geographically matched controls.
Results: Evidence of recent
C. jejuni infection was present in 30% of GBS patients compared to 8% of controls (15/50 vs. 3/40
P<0.005). Eight (47%)
C. jejuni-positive patients reported symptoms of gastroenteritis 4-30 days (mean 13 days) prior to onset of GBS. Of the 15 patients with evidence of
C. jejuni infection, 10 (67%) patients had axonal type of GBS. Axonal variety of GBS presented in a younger age group compared to acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) patients (mean age: axonal vs. AIDP: 30.11 + 13.73 vs. 40.2 + 18.77).
C. jejuni-positive patients presented mainly in spring and winter and had a similar age and sex incidence as compared to the rest of the GBS patients.
Conclusions: Preceding
C. jejuni infection is common among GBS patients and is often associated with the axonal variety of GBS. Axonal variety of GBS generally presents in a younger age group as compared to AIDP.
