Guillain-Barré syndrome in Arab countries: a systematic review.
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Authors
Benamer, Hani
Issue Date
2014-08-15
Journal
Type
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
Keywords
Epidemiology
Clinical pattern
Arab countries
Neuropathy
Guillain–barré syndrome
Incidence
Factual databases
Middle East
Clinical pattern
Arab countries
Neuropathy
Guillain–barré syndrome
Incidence
Factual databases
Middle East
Journal Title
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume
343
Issue
1-2
Begin page
221
End page
223
Abstract
Systematic review of the frequency and clinical pattern of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in Arab countries was initiated by a keyword search of PubMed, Medline and Embase and examination of references in all relevant papers. Seven articles were included from Iraq (n = 1), Kuwait (n = 1), Libya (n = 2), and Saudi Arabia (n = 3). The only incidence report from the Arab world, a 1987 study from Libya, gives an incidence of 1.7 per 100,000 person-years. Some studies reported that GBS was more common in males and in people in their twenties and thirties. Five studies showed that GBS occurred more frequently during the colder months, and antecedent infection was reported in 26–76% of cases. Most patients had an ascending pattern of weakness and almost all patients had lower limb weakness and reduced or absent reflexes. Facial weakness was the most common cranial nerve involvement. Only one study classified the GBS patients according to electrophysiological findings and reported that 68% of the patients had demyelination type and 15% axonal type. Protein level in cerebrospinal fluid is elevated in most of the GBS patients. Mortality rate from GBS was up to 8%. This systematic review shows an immense deficit in epidemiological data on GBS in Arab countries. The limited data show that clinical pattern, sex and age distribution, reported antecedent infection, and GBS subtypes are similar to those in Western countries. However, further well-designed epidemiological studies on GBS in the Arab world are needed.
Citation
Benamer HT, Bredan A. Guillain-Barré syndrome in Arab countries: a systematic review. J Neurol Sci. 2014 Aug 15;343(1-2):221-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2014.05.065. Epub 2014 Jun 6. PMID: 24950899.