Guillain-Barré Syndrome

(gē-yăn'bə-rā')
n.
A temporary inflammation of the nerves, causing pain, weakness, and paralysis in the extremities and often progressing to the chest and face. It typically occurs after recovery from a viral infection or, in rare cases, following immunization for influenza.

[After Georges Guillain (1876-1961) and and Jean Alexandre Barré (1880-1967), French neurologists.]

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n.

A neurologic syndrome, usually following certain virus infections, marked by paresthesia of the limbs and by muscular weakness or a flaccid paralysis. Also called Guillain-Barré syndrome, infectious polyneuritis, Landry-Gillain-Barré syndrome, Landry syndrome, polyradiculoneuropathy, radiculoganglionitis.

A relatively rare disease of humans affecting the peripheral nervous system, especially the spinal nerves, but also the cranial nerves. Often observed after parenteral administration of drugs and vaccines. Pathological changes include demyelination, inflammation, edema and nerve root decompression. Called also acute idiopathic polyneuritis, postinfectious polyneuritis and Landry's paralysis. The cause is unknown but is believed to be related to an autoimmune mechanism. Idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (coonhound paralysis) in dogs and cauda equina neuritis in horses are similar.