Clinical Profile and Predictors of Mechanical Ventilation in Guillain-Barre Syndrome in North Indian Children

Objective: To describe the clinical-laboratory profile of pediatric Guillain-Barre syndrome and delineate features associated with need of mechanical ventilation.

Methods: In a prospective observational study at tertiary care hospital, clinical-laboratory assessment and nerve conduction studies were documented in consecutive children hospitalized with Guillain-Barre syndrome according to Brighton criteria. Clinical-laboratory features were compared between ventilated and nonventilated patients using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Forty-six children (27 boys) with a mean age of 69.1±35.2 months were enrolled. History of preceding infection was present in 47.8%, bulbar palsy in 43.5%, feeble voice in 41.3%, sensory involvement in 13%, and autonomic involvement in 39.5%. Tetraparesis was noted in 87% of cases. Hughes disability scale >3 was noted in 44 children at admission and 39 (84.7%) at discharge. The most common electrophysiological type was acute motor axonal neuropathy (46.5%) followed by acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (39.5%), acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (7%), and inexcitable nerves (7%). Nine (19.7%) children were ventilated, 3 (6.5%) died or were lost, and 43 were discharged. Factors associated with need of mechanical ventilation on univariate analysis were older age, hypertension, bulbar palsy, feeble voice, lower Medical Research Council (MRC) sum, raised total leucocyte count, and history of preceding infection. Logistic regression revealed older age, history of predisposing illness, lower MRC sum at presentation, and bulbar palsy as independent predictors of mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions: The most common electrophysiological subtype in northern Indian children is acute motor axonal neuropathy. Older age, preceding infection, low MRC sum, and bulbar palsy are predictors of mechanical ventilation in pediatric Guillain-Barre syndrome.