The Landry-Guillain-Barré Strohl Syndrome 1859 to 1992 A Historical Perspective

The history of the development of knowledge about Guillain-Barré-Syndrome (GBS) is reviewed. The clinical profile, including characteristic CSF findings, were established by Laundry in 1859 and Barre in 1916. Pathologic features of GBS were defined ill three landmark papers by Haymarker and Kernohan in 1949, Waksman and Adams in 1955, and Asbury, Arnason and Adams in 1969. Although GRS is considered to be an immune-mediated disorder, the exact immune mechanism(s) leading to demyelination is riot yet well established bill probably involves both cellular and humoral responses. Treatment modalities have progressed from massages and volatile liniments used by Landry to anticipatory and supportive care, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Outcome continues to be generally favorable as originally emphasized. Clinical and electrophysiologic predictors of unfavorable outcome have been identified.