Elevated sugar in blood and CSF increases severity of Guillain-Barre syndrome: Study

China: Increased levels of sugar in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are associated with severity and short-term prognosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), show results from a recent study. The study findings are published in the journal Neurological Research.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. Findings from previous preliminary studies have suggested a potential association between blood sugar levels and GBS. 

Against the above background, Zuneng Lu, Renmin Hospital Of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R.C. China, and colleagues aimed to explore the correlation of elevated glucose levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid with the progression and short-term prognosis of GBS. 

For this purpose, the researchers collected and retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 982 patients diagnosed with GBS in 31 representative tertiary hospitals, located in 14 provinces in southern China. Patients were grouped according to the levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), as well as the concentration of blood hemoglobinAlc (HbA1c). Functional outcomes were quantified using the Hughes grade scale.