Guillain-Barré syndrome electrocardiogram


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]

Overview
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, autoimmune, polyradiculoneuropathy affecting the peripheral nervous system, usually triggered by an acute infectious process. The dysautonomia seen in Guillian Barre syndrome may lead to some conduction and rhythm disturbances. Features of GBS on EKG can be 2nd or 3rd degree conduction block, QRS prolongation and T wave abnormality. However, the EKG changes are non-specific and they act as supportive not definitive diagnostic tools.

ECG

 * Autonomic dysfunction found in Guillian Barre syndrome may lead to many conduction abnormalities that are picked up on electrocardiogram. Some abnormalities seen on EKG are:
 * 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular block,
 * T-wave abnormalities
 * ST depression
 * QRS widening