Objectives: To compare the clinical profile and short-term outcome of children with axonal and demyelinating subtypes of childhood Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS).
Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. Consecutive children with Guillain Barré syndrome were recruited to compare the clinical profile and short term outcome among the subtypes.
Results: Among 9847 children admitted to the emergency, 95 had acute flaccid paralysis; 57 of whom had GBS. Electrophysiological studies were completed in 57; of whom 20 had acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP); 19 had acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN); 12 had non-reactive nerves; five were unclassifiable; 1 had acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). More children in AMAN group had preceding gastroenteritis (4 vs. 2), while AIDP group had upper respiratory infections (12 vs. 7). Ataxia was only seen in AIDP subtype while wrist drop, foot drop and hyperreflexia were seen only with AMAN subtype. Respiratory muscle involvement (6 vs. 3) and artificial ventilation (5 vs. 2) was more in AMAN. At discharge, children with AIDP were less likely to be non-ambulant (12 vs. 6, p = 0.036). Mean disability scores at hospital discharge (4.9 ± 1.2 vs. 4 ± 0.9, p = 0.015) and at last follow-up (0.7 ± 1.01 vs. 0.05 ± 0.2, p = 0.016) were higher in AMAN. Children with AIDP were more likely to achieve normalcy on follow-up (19 vs. 12, p = 0.023).
Conclusions: Children with AMAN appear to have a more severe clinical course; higher short-term morbidity; and slower recovery than those with AIDP.
Keywords: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; Acute motor axonal neuropathy; Clinical features; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Neurophysiology.