POLYSEGMENTAL MOTOR-NERVE CONDUCTION-VELOCITY IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

Results of polysegmental analysis of motor nerve conduction velocity in 33 patients with GlciLlain-Barre syndrome are presented. The study was performed in the acute phase, 7-20 days from the onset of the disease (mean, 10 days), at the peak of clinical symptoms, in the period of early improvement 5-7 weeks from the beginning, and in the phase of late improvement 10 or more months later. The accent was on the polysegmental analysis. The ulnar nerve was examined in four segments, i.e. in the forearm, elbow, upper arm and azilla to Erb's point. The peroneal nerve was analyzed on the lower leg, popliteal fossa and on the same fibers belonging to the sciatic nerve in the upper leg, with recording electrode in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle. In the group taken as a whole, the results of polysegmental analysis indicated that in the acute phase, slowing was mostly found in the proximal segment of ulnar nerve and sciatic nerve, then in the elbow and popliteal fossa. During early clinical improvement, the conduction velocity significantly decreased in the distal parts. In the chronic phase there was a significant improvement, but residual slowing was still most prominent in the proximal segments. In some patients, the conduction velocities were almost within the normal limits or slightly reduced in accessible segments.