Guillain-Barre Syndrome Causes

Nerve Conduction Studies Showing Demyelination

There is much research into the causes of GBS. About sixty percent of patients suffer from a throat or intestinal infection within the week or two prior to developing GBS. It is believed that one’s immune system tries to fight this infection but develops antibodies which also react against nerve. In some cases in which the preceding infection is a intestinal illness with campylobacter jejuni specific antibodies against GM-1 can be identified in the blood of patients. In other patients no specific antibody is discovered.  In either case there is a direct attack on the insulation around the nerves, which is called myelin.  This myelin is stripped off of the nerves and therefore the nerves cannot conduct electricity which leads to weakness.