Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about Guillain-Barre syndrome.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero-to-finals.com slash gianbare

or in the neurology section of the second edition of the zero to finals medicine book.

And you can find flashcards and questions to train your knowledge on this content

and help you remember the information for longer at members.0 to finals.com.

So let's get straight into it.

Guyang barre syndrome is an acute paralytic polyneuropathy

that affects the peripheral nervous system.

It causes acute, symmetrical, ascending weakness

and can cause sensory symptoms.

It's usually triggered by an infection and is particularly associated with

campylobacter, jejuni, cytomegalovirus or CMV, and Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV infection.

Let's start with the pathophysiology. Giyan Bari syndrome is thought to occur

due to a process called molecular mimicry. The B cells of the immune system create antibodies

against the antigens on the triggering pathogen, for example, campylobacter.

These antibodies also match proteins on the peripheral neurons.

They may target proteins on the myelin sheath or the nerve axon itself,

causing damage to the peripheral neurons and the symptoms.

Let's talk about the presentation.

Symptoms usually start within four weeks of the triggering infection.

They can begin in the feet and then ascend upwards.

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