Effects of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy on patients of guillain barré syndrome in intensive care unit of BSMMU - a retrospective study

Abstract

Acute polyneuropathy or Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) following respiratory, gastrointestinal and other illness cause a world wide morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy (IgG) is early phase of GBS is supposed to reduce life threatening complications. In our retrospective study in ICU, BSMMU Dhaka from January 2007 to December 2008, we included 43 patients admitted during that time. Among the patients 15 patients who received IgG therapy, 1 (one) patient died and 8 patients died among 28 who did not receive Immunotherapy. Recovery rate was 91.66% among IgG group and 66.67% in non IgG group. Ventilated Patients were 53.33% in IgG group and 71.43% patients were in non IgG group. The average duration of stay was 35 days in IgG group and 39.18 days in non-IgG group. The average duration of stay was 22.57 days in IgG group who received immunotherapy in 0-4 days of onset of symptoms and 45.88 days in who got immunotherapy in 5-8 days of onset of symptoms. It is clearly evident that IgG therapy in early phase of GBS reduces, morality, morbidity and duration of hospital (ICU) stay and IgG therapy in early phase of GBS is a better treatment option.

Key Words: GBS, immunoglobulin.

Journal of BSA, 2008; 21(2): 72-75