- 1. Therapeutic plasmapheresis
- 2. Therapeutic immunoglobulin
- 3. Physiotherapy treatment
- Main treatment complications
- Signs of improvement
- Signs of worsening
The most commonly used treatments to treat Guillain-Barré Syndrome include the use of intravenous immunoglobulin or holding therapeutic plasmapheresis sessions, which, although they cannot cure the disease, help to relieve symptoms and speed recovery.
These treatments are usually initiated in the Intensive Care Units when the patient is hospitalized and aim to reduce the amount of antibodies in the blood, thus preventing them from causing nerve damage and worsening the degree of disease development.
Both types of treatment have the same effectiveness in relieving symptoms and recovering the patient, however, the use of immunoglobulin is easier to be performed and has fewer side effects than therapeutic plasmapheresis. Whenever there is a suspicion of having this syndrome, it is recommended to consult a neurologist to confirm the diagnosis, and then there may be referral to other specialties.
1. Therapeutic plasmapheresis
Plasmapheresis is a type of treatment that consists of filtering the blood in order to remove excess substances that may be causing the disease. In the case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, plasmapheresis is performed in order to remove excess antibodies that are acting against the peripheral nervous system and causing the symptoms of the disease.
The filtered blood is then returned to the body, which is stimulated to produce healthy antibodies, thus alleviating the symptoms of the disease. Understand how plasmapheresis is done.
2. Therapeutic immunoglobulin
Immunoglobulin treatment consists of injecting healthy antibodies directly into the vein that acts against the antibodies that are causing the disease. Thus, treatment with immunoglobulin becomes effective because it promotes the destruction of antibodies that are acting against the nervous system, relieving symptoms.
3. Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy is important in Guillain-Barré Syndrome because it promotes the recovery of muscle and respiratory functions, improving the person's quality of life. It is important that physiotherapy is continued for long periods until the patient regains the maximum capacity.
The accompaniment of a physiotherapist with daily exercises performed with the patient is necessary to stimulate the movement of the joints, improve the range of motion of the joints, maintain muscle strength and prevent respiratory and circulatory complications. Since, for most patients, the main objective is to go back to walking alone.
When the patient is admitted to the ICU, it can be connected to breathing apparatus and in this case the physiotherapist is also important to ensure the necessary oxygenation, but after hospital discharge the physiotherapy treatment can be maintained for 1 year or more, depending on the progress made by the patient.
Main treatment complications
Treatment should be continued until the doctor says otherwise, however there may be some treatment-related complications, which should be reported to the doctor.
In the case of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, for example, some of the common complications are headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea, tremor, excessive tiredness and vomiting. The most serious complications, however difficult to happen, are kidney failure, infarction and clot formation, for example.
In the case of plasmapheresis, there may be a decrease in blood pressure, a change in heart rate, fever, dizziness, a greater chance of infections and a decrease in calcium levels. Among the most serious complications are hemorrhage, generalized infection, clot formation and air accumulation in the lung membranes, however, these complications are more difficult to happen.
Usually, these complications are treated with the use of medications, analgesics and antiemetics to relieve fever and the urge to vomit, for example, and it is important to inform the doctor of the symptoms experienced.
Signs of improvement
The signs of improvement in Guillain-Barré Syndrome begin to appear about 3 weeks after the start of treatment, however most patients do not regain control of their movements until after 6 months.
Signs of worsening
The signs of worsening of Guillain-Barré Syndrome happen about 2 weeks after the onset of the first symptoms of the disease and include difficulty in breathing, sudden changes in blood pressure and incontinence, for example, and happen when treatment is not done properly correct.
