Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Autoimmune Disease Can Be Crippling

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a disorder that makes the immune system attacks the nerves. This syndrome is relatively rare and only affects 1-2 people per 100,000, but can strike anyone regardless of age. The disease is often followed by a mild infection such as pneumonia or gastrointestinal.

Damage to the nerve will cause numbness, muscle weakness and paralysis. This syndrome most often affects the nerve coverings (myelin sheath) that is called demyelination that causes nerve signals to move so much slower. Whereas damage to other nerves can make the nerve stop working altogether.

Symptom
Guillain-Barre syndrome is often preceded by tingling and weakness in the feet and legs and climbed into the upper body and arms. Other symptoms or signs that appear as:

   1. Flavors such as tingling in fingers, feet or both
   2. Weakness and tingling sensations in the legs that spreads to the top
   3. Inability to walk
   4. Difficulty with eye movements, facial, talking, chewing or swallowing
   5. Severe pain in lower back
   6. Difficulty in controlling bladder or bowel function
   7. Rapid heartbeat
   8. Difficulty breathing


Cause
Until now, scientists do not yet know with certainty what the cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome, although it is likely due to infection. Several cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs after exposure to bacterial infection, have a chronic disease, but many also occur without any triggers.

Treatment
Generally there is no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome. But today there are two types of treatment can speed recovery and reduce the severity of this syndrome are:

1. Plasmapheresis, the treatment is known as plasma exchange (cleansing the blood). This method consists away from the discharge of blood (plasma) and separating blood cells from the truth.

Then the blood cells are put back into the body in order to produce plasma and replace the plasma that has been issued. Scientists believe in this technique there are specific antibodies in plasma that contribute to the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves.
 
2. Intravenous immunoglobulin, which provides immunoglobulins containing antibodies from healthy blood donors by intravenous. High doses of immunoglobulin can block the antibodies that damage the nervous system in the body.