Epidemiology
Etiology
- Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy of the peripheral nervous system.
- Autoimmune process triggered by a preceding infection (1-3 weeks prior).
- Most common association: Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis.
- Other associations: CMV, EBV, influenza, Zika virus, recent vaccination.
- Mechanism: Molecular mimicry, where antibodies against the infectious agent cross-react with gangliosides on the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves.
- Results in demyelination and axonal damage, leading to impaired nerve conduction.
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
Diagnostics
- CSF: albuminocytologic dissociation (i.e., increased protein levels with normal leukocyte count < 10 cells/mcL in CSF)
Treatment