Treatment
Guillain-Barre Syndrome usually resolves on its own. In most cases, symptoms will stabilize and then reverse within weeks or months, although, according to NINDS, as many as 30% of those affected may still have some persistent weakness 3 years later. The goals of treatment are to try to help decrease the severity of symptoms, speed healing, and to prevent and/or minimize complications. Many patients may require hospitalization for careful monitoring and supportive care. If the symptoms are severe, the patient may require breathing assistance.
Two approaches are sometimes used early in the disease to lessen the severity and hasten the recovery. Both are intended to decrease the effectiveness of the antibodies that attack the myelin sheath. Plasmapheresis - removing blood, filtering out the liquid plasma which contains antibodies that may be involved in the autoimmune disorder, and returning the red and white blood cells to the patient - has proven effective in some patients. Immunoglobulin injections to block the activity of the damaging antibodies have been beneficial to some patients.
In the recovery phase, most patients undergo physical therapy to help regain muscle strength.
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