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The sural-sparing pattern in clinical variants and electrophysiological subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Padrão de preservação do sural nas variantes clínicas e subtipos eletrofisiológicos da síndrome de Guillain-Barré

Abstract

Background

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide and can be classified into electrophysiological subtypes and clinical variants.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the frequency of the sural-sparing pattern (SSP) in subtypes and variants of GBS.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical and electrophysiological data of 171 patients with GBS hospitalized in public and private hospitals of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, between 1994 and 2018; all cases were followed up by the same neurologist in a reference neurology center. Patients were classified according to electrophysiological subtypes and clinical variants, and the SSP frequency was compared in both categories. The exact Fisher test and Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The SSP was present in 53% (57 of 107) of the patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), 8% (4 of 48) of the patients with axonal subtypes, and 31% (5 of 16) of the equivocal cases. The SSP frequency in the AIDP was significantly higher than in the axonal subtypes (p < 0.0001); the value was kept high after serial electrophysiological examinations. Only the paraparetic subtype did not present SSP.

Conclusion

The SSP may be present in AIDP and axonal subtypes, including acute motor axonal neuropathy, but it is significantly more present in AIDP. Moreover, the clinical variants reflect a specific pathological process and are correlated to its typical electrophysiological subtype, affecting the SSP frequency.

Keywords
Guillain-Barré Syndrome; Nerve Conduction Studies; Sural Nerve; Neurophysiology; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

Resumo

Antecedentes

A síndrome de Guillain-Barré (GBS) é a causa mais comum de paralisia flácida aguda em todo o mundo e pode ser classificada em subtipos eletrofisiológicos e variantes clínicas.

Objetivo

Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a frequência do padrão de preservação do sural (SSP) em subtipos e variantes de GBS.

Métodos

É um estudo de coorte retrospectivo que analisou dados clínicos e eletrofisiológicos de 171 pacientes com GBS internados em hospitais públicos e privados de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, entre 1994 e 2018. Todos os casos foram acompanhados pelo mesmo neurologista em centro de referência em neurologia. Os pacientes foram classificados de acordo com os subtipos eletrofisiológicos e variantes clínicas e a frequência do SSP foi comparada em ambas as categorias. O teste exato de Fisher e a correção de Bonferroni foram utilizados para análise estatística.

Resultados

O SSP esteve presente em 53% (57 de 107) dos pacientes com polirradiculoneuropatia desmielinizante inflamatória aguda (PDIA), em 8% (4 de 48) dos pacientes com subtipos axonais e em 31% (5 de 16) dos casos não definidos. A frequência do SSP no AIDP foi significativamente maior do que nos subtipos axonais (p < 0,0001); o valor manteve-se elevado após exames eletrofisiológicos seriados. Apenas o subtipo paraparético não apresentou SSP.

Conclusão

O SSP pode estar presente na PDIA e nos subtipos axonais, incluindo a neuropatia axonal motora aguda, mas está significativamente mais presente na PDIA. Além disso, as variantes clínicas refletem um processo patológico específico e estão correlacionadas ao seu subtipo eletrofisiológico típico, afetando a frequência do SSP.

Palavras-chave
Síndrome de Guillain-Barré; Estudos de Condução Nervosa; Nervo Sural; Neurofisiologia; Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico

INTRODUCTION

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. This disorder is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide, presenting a higher incidence among men and older adults.11 Sejvar JJ, Baughman AL, Wise M, Morgan OW. Population incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Neuroepidemiology 2011;36(02):123–133. Doi: 10.1159/000324710
https://doi.org/10.1159/000324710...
The GBS diagnosis encompasses clinical presentation, electrodiagnostic features, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.22 Asbury AK, Cornblath DR. Assessment of current diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Ann Neurol 1990;27 (Suppl):S21–S24. Doi: 10.1002/ana.410270707
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410270707...
55 Leonhard SE, Mandarakas MR, Gondim FAA, et al. Diagnosis and management of Guillain-Barré syndrome in ten steps. Nat Rev Neurol 2019;15(11):671–683. Doi: 10.1038/s41582-019-0250-9
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0250-...

The GBS can be classified according to demyelinating (i.e., acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy [AIDP]) and axonal subtypes (i.e., acute motor axonal neuropathy [AMAN] and acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy [AMSAN]).33 Hadden RD, Cornblath DR, Hughes RA, et al; Plasma Exchange/Sandoglobulin Guillain-Barré Syndrome Trial Group. Electrophysiological classification of Guillain-Barré syndrome: clinical associations and outcome. Ann Neurol 1998;44(05): 780–788. Doi: 10.1002/ana.410440512
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410440512...
,44 Ho TW, Mishu B, Li CY, et al. Guillain-Barré syndrome in northern China. Relationship to Campylobacter jejuni infection and anti-glycolipid antibodies. Brain 1995;118(Pt 3):597–605. Doi: 10.1093/brain/118.3.597
https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/118.3.597...
In addition, GBS can also be categorized into clinical variants, such as the classic sensorimotor, pure motor, paraparesis, pharyngeal-cervical-brachial, bilateral facial palsy with paresthesia, pure sensory, Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis.55 Leonhard SE, Mandarakas MR, Gondim FAA, et al. Diagnosis and management of Guillain-Barré syndrome in ten steps. Nat Rev Neurol 2019;15(11):671–683. Doi: 10.1038/s41582-019-0250-9
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0250-...

The sural-sparing pattern (SSP), a useful tool for diagnosing GBS, is the sural sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) normal (or relatively spared) in the presence of abnormal median or ulnar SNAP.66 Hiew FL, Rajabally YA. Sural sparing in Guillain-Barré syndrome subtypes: a reappraisal with historical and recent definitions. Clin Neurophysiol 2016;127(02):1683–1688. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph. 2015.09.131
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.09...
This pattern was considered the most specific finding to differentiate AIDP from its mimics.77 Derksen A, Ritter C, Athar P, et al. Sural sparing pattern discriminates Guillain-Barré syndrome from its mimics. Muscle Nerve 2014;50(05):780–784. Doi: 10.1002/mus.24226
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24226...
Additionally, Jin et al.88 Jin J, Hu F, Qin X, et al. Very Early Neurophysiological Study in Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Eur Neurol 2018;80(1-2):100–105. Doi: 10.1159/000494261
https://doi.org/10.1159/000494261...
found SSP in the initial stages of the GBS. Previous studies associated SSP with AIDP77 Derksen A, Ritter C, Athar P, et al. Sural sparing pattern discriminates Guillain-Barré syndrome from its mimics. Muscle Nerve 2014;50(05):780–784. Doi: 10.1002/mus.24226
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24226...
,99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
,1010 Al-Shekhlee A, Robinson J, Katirji B. Sensory sparing patterns and the sensory ratio in acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 2007;35(02):246–250. Doi: 10.1002/mus.20660
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.20660...
; however, the pattern was also observed in MFS and axonal subtypes.1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...
1414 Capasso M, Notturno F, Manzoli C, Uncini A. Involvement of sensory fibres in axonal subtypes of Guillain-Barre syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011;82(06):664–670. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2010.238311
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2010.238311...
Moreover, SSP has several definitions in the literature that may hinder its analysis.77 Derksen A, Ritter C, Athar P, et al. Sural sparing pattern discriminates Guillain-Barré syndrome from its mimics. Muscle Nerve 2014;50(05):780–784. Doi: 10.1002/mus.24226
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24226...
,99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...

Therefore, this study aimed to compare the frequency of the SSP in electrophysiological subtypes and clinical variants of GBS.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used clinical and electrophysiological data from medical records of 171 patients diagnosed with GBS hospitalized in public and private hospitals from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, between 1994 and 2018. The same neurologist (M. E. Dourado) followed the cases and conducted the neurophysiology evaluations. The study was conducted in the neurology center of the Integrated Clinical Medicine Department of the Onofre Lopes University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.

Patients were diagnosed with GBS according to Asbury and Cornblath22 Asbury AK, Cornblath DR. Assessment of current diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Ann Neurol 1990;27 (Suppl):S21–S24. Doi: 10.1002/ana.410270707
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410270707...
criteria. They were classified into AIDP or axonal subtypes (i.e., AMAN) according to electrophysiological criteria.33 Hadden RD, Cornblath DR, Hughes RA, et al; Plasma Exchange/Sandoglobulin Guillain-Barré Syndrome Trial Group. Electrophysiological classification of Guillain-Barré syndrome: clinical associations and outcome. Ann Neurol 1998;44(05): 780–788. Doi: 10.1002/ana.410440512
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410440512...
AMSAN is an acute axonal neuropathy involving motor and sensory fibers. The SNAP amplitude reduced by 50% in two nerves can predict the sensory involvement in axonal GBS and differentiate AMSAN from AMAN.1515 Uncini A, Kuwabara S. Electrodiagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barrè syndrome: a critical revision and the need for an update. Clin Neurophysiol 2012;123(08):1487–1495. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2012.01.025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2012.01...
The cases that did not satisfy this criterion were classified as an equivocal subtype. Some patients were submitted to more than one electroneuromyography exam.

Median and ulnar sensory nerve responses were recorded antidromically with ring electrodes on the second and fifth fingers, respectively; surface stimulation was on the wrist, 14 cm proximal to the active recording electrode. Sural nerve potentials were recorded from the lateral malleolus with surface electrodes; the stimulation site was 14 cm proximal to the active recording electrode. Skin temperature of arms and legs was monitored and maintained above 32°C using a heater if needed. A sensory response was considered abnormal if values for the SNAP peak-to-peak (or baseline-to-peak) amplitude were below 6 uV in the sural nerve and 16 uV in the median nerve.99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...

The analysis considered SSP as an absent median SNAP and present sural SNAP (criteria 1) or an abnormal median SNAP and normal sural SNAP (criteria 2).99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
We disregarded median SNAP changes attributable to carpal tunnel syndrome. The SSP frequency was compared between electrophysiological subtypes and clinical variants. When patients had two or more electrophysiological exams, the second data was considered for analysis, and these data were compared.

The clinical variants were classified into classic sensorimotor, pure motor, paraparetic, pharyngeal-cervical-brachial, bilateral facial palsy with paresthesias, pure sensory, MFS, and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis.55 Leonhard SE, Mandarakas MR, Gondim FAA, et al. Diagnosis and management of Guillain-Barré syndrome in ten steps. Nat Rev Neurol 2019;15(11):671–683. Doi: 10.1038/s41582-019-0250-9
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0250-...
Patients with MFS who developed limb weakness were denominated MFS overlap with the GBS variant. The patients with acute ataxic neuropathy were classified as pure sensory or as an incomplete form of MFS according to the subtype. The demyelinating patients were classified as pure sensory, whereas those equivocal were classified as MFS.1616 Oh SJ, LaGanke C, Claussen GC. Sensory Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neurology 2001;56(01):82–86. Doi: 10.1212/wnl.56.1.82
https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.56.1.82...

Statistical analysis

The proportion of patients with SSP was presented with its 95% confidence interval using the exact binomial method in each comparison. Then, proportions were tested for the H0 hypothesis of equality of proportions between groups using the exact Fisher test followed by Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Moreover, the comparisons of electrophysiological subtypes and clinical variants were significant when p < 0.016 and p < 0.007, respectively. All analyses were performed in R®.

RESULTS

Patients presented a mean age of 34.73 years; 60.8% (104) were men and 39.2% (67) women. The mean time from symptom onset to the first electrophysiological exam was 27.7 days; 15 patients did not have this information in the database.

The SSP was present in 38.6% (66 of 171) of the patients with GBS; 65.1% (n = 43) did not have median SNAP and presented sural SNAP, and 34.9% (n = 23) had abnormal median SNAP and normal sural SNAP. SSP frequency regarding the time to perform the early (up to seven days) or the late (over seven days) exam was seven (36.8%) and 59 (38.5%) days, respectively.

Considering the electrophysiological subtypes (Table 1 and Figure 1), 53.2% of the patients with AIDP and 8.3% with axonal subtypes presented SSP. Among the axonal subtypes, 4.9% of the patients with AMAN (2 of 41: case 1, sural SNAP of 11,4 uV and median SNAP of 13,9 uV; case 2, sural SNAP of 12 uV and median SNAP of 15,5 uV) and 28.5% with AMSAN (2 of 7: case 3, sural SNAP of 18,7 uV and median SNAP of 0 uV; case 4, sural SNAP of 5 uV and median SNAP of 0 uV presented SSP).

Table 1
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the electrophysiological subtypes considering patients with at least one electromyography data
Figure 1
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the electrophysiological subtypes considering patients with at least one electromyography data.

Considering patients with two or more electromyography data, 39.7% (33 of 83) presented SSP (Table 2 and Figure 2). The mean time from symptom onset to the second electrophysiological examination was 60.6 days; three patients did not present this information in the database.

Table 2
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the electrophysiological subtypes considering patients with two or more electromyography data
Figure 2
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the electrophysiological subtypes considering patients with two or more electromyography data.

Regarding the clinical variants (Table 3 and Figure 3), the SSP was more frequent in bilateral facial palsy with paresthesia, classic sensorimotor, and MFS variants; the pattern was not observed in the paraparetic variant.

Table 3
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the clinical variants
Figure 3
SSP frequency and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in the clinical variants.

DISCUSSION

The SSP was present in 38% of the patients with GBS, regardless of the electrophysiological subtype. The SSP was most frequently identified in the demyelinating subtype and the bilateral facial palsy with paresthesia variant; however, the pattern did not vary according to GBS duration.

The SSP is an electrophysiological pattern found in about one-third of the patients with GBS77 Derksen A, Ritter C, Athar P, et al. Sural sparing pattern discriminates Guillain-Barré syndrome from its mimics. Muscle Nerve 2014;50(05):780–784. Doi: 10.1002/mus.24226
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24226...
,99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...
; it presents several definitions in the literature that may hinder its analysis. The SSP frequency in GBS has been attributed to its demyelinating pathology and is well documented only in AIDP.99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
,1010 Al-Shekhlee A, Robinson J, Katirji B. Sensory sparing patterns and the sensory ratio in acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 2007;35(02):246–250. Doi: 10.1002/mus.20660
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.20660...
Hiew and Rajabally66 Hiew FL, Rajabally YA. Sural sparing in Guillain-Barré syndrome subtypes: a reappraisal with historical and recent definitions. Clin Neurophysiol 2016;127(02):1683–1688. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph. 2015.09.131
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.09...
retrospectively applied different SSP definitions to patients with GBS, verifying important differences in sensitivity and specificity for AIDP. The authors concluded that historical definitions would be specific for the demyelinating subtype. On the other hand, Umapathi et al.1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...
reported SSP in both axonal and demyelinating GBS. All previous criteria were based on motor conduction; however, Uncini et al. used SSP as a supportive for AIDP diagnosis. For axonal subtypes, this author included motor reversible conduction failure as suggestive of AMAN and sensitive reversible conduction failure plus SNAP reduction for AMSAN. According to the author, the probability for equivocal diagnosis was lower with these criteria compared with Hadden's and Rajabally's ones.1717 Uncini A, Ippoliti L, Shahrizaila N, Sekiguchi Y, Kuwabara S. Optimizing the electrodiagnostic accuracy in Guillain-Barré syndrome subtypes: Criteria sets and sparse linear discriminant analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2017;128(07):1176–1183. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.03.048
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2017.03...

Nagappa et al.1818 Nagappa M, Wahatule R, Bindu PS, Sinha S, Taly AB. Spectrumof Sensory Conduction Abnormalities in Guillain Barre Syndrome. Neurol India 2022;70(06):2393–2400. Doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.364073
https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.364073...
reported SSP ranging from 10.5% to 84.5% depending on the criteria and in different GBS subtypes; the pattern was highly correlated with AIDP. The lowest frequency was noted when combining "absent median" or "absent ulnar" and "present" or "normal" sural, contradicting our results.

Even considering the historical definition proposed by Bromberg and Albers,99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
the present study observed SSP in demyelinating and axonal subtypes but with significantly higher frequency in patients with AIDP (p < 0.0001); values were kept high after serial electrophysiological examinations (p < 0.0001).

Abnormalities in studies about sensory nerve conduction are rather common and change over time.1818 Nagappa M, Wahatule R, Bindu PS, Sinha S, Taly AB. Spectrumof Sensory Conduction Abnormalities in Guillain Barre Syndrome. Neurol India 2022;70(06):2393–2400. Doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.364073
https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.364073...
SSP can be observed in the early stage of GBS and is not associated with a worse prognosis.1919 López-Hernández JC, Rivas-Cruz MA, Galnares-Olalde JA, et al. Sural nerve involvement in Guillain-Barré syndrome: Clinical and prognostic implications. A prospective cohort. J Clin Neurosci 2023;110:48–52. Doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.01.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2023.01.0...
In the present study, SSP was present similarly in the early (up to seven days) (36.8%) and late (over seven days) (38.5%) exams; the pattern did not change over time.

Regarding axonal subtypes, the SSP was present in patients with AMAN and AMSAN, corroborating Umapathi et al.1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...
results. In our study, two AMAN cases had minor sensory abnormalities, not achieving AMSAN criteria. By definition, AMAN patients should not have any sensory complaints or findings. However, Capasso et al.1414 Capasso M, Notturno F, Manzoli C, Uncini A. Involvement of sensory fibres in axonal subtypes of Guillain-Barre syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011;82(06):664–670. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2010.238311
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2010.238311...
demonstrated that sensory fibers are affected in AMSAN and AMAN subtypes using serial conduction studies.

In this sense, AMAN and AMSAN pathophysiology is related to the action of anti-ganglioside antibodies against the nodal axolemma and the paranodal region. These antibodies impair sodium channels, resulting in reversible conduction failure and axonal damage due to Wallerian-like degeneration in motor and sensory fibers.2020 Uncini A. A common mechanism and a new categorization for anti-ganglioside antibody-mediated neuropathies. Exp Neurol 2012;235(02):513–516. Doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.03.023
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2012...
,2121 Susuki K, Yuki N, Schafer DP, et al. Dysfunction of nodes of Ranvier: a mechanism for anti-ganglioside antibody-mediated neuropathies. Exp Neurol 2012;233(01):534–542. Doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.11.039
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2011...
Therefore, Yuki and Shahrizaila2222 Yuki N, Shahrizaila N. Keeping it simple: is there a need for the various subtyping of axonal forms of Guillain-Barre syndrome? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011;82(06):592. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2011.241562
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2011.241562...
suggest that AMAN and AMSAN are part of only one electrophysiological subtype and differ mainly by the extension of impairment, which is reinforced by the immunological profile they share.2323 Yuki N, Kuwabara S, Koga M, Hirata K. Acute motor axonal neuropathy and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy share a common immunological profile. J Neurol Sci 1999;168(02): 121–126. Doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(99)00180-x
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-510x(99)00...

Regarding clinical variants, this study suggested that they reflect the pathological process and are correlated to its electrophysiological subtype. Hence, the SSP frequency was expected to be higher in demyelinating and lower in the axonal variant. In the present study, SSP was significantly more frequent in the classic sensorimotor than in the pure motor variant (p < 0.0001). All the patients with the pure sensory variant were classified as a demyelinating subtype, resulting in a higher frequency.

The SSP was present in 83% of patients with bilateral facial palsy with paresthesia, indicating its demyelinating nature.2424 Susuki K, Koga M, Hirata K, Isogai E, Yuki N. A Guillain-Barré syndrome variant with prominent facial diplegia. J Neurol 2009; 256(11):1899–1905. Doi: 10.1007/s00415-009-5254-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5254-...
Patients with the paraparetic variant did not have SSP, confirming its axonal pathophysiology.2525 Nagashima T, Kokubun N, Shahrizaila N, Funakoshi K, Hirata K, Yuki N. Paraparetic Guillain-Barré syndrome: Extending the axonal spectrum. Neurol Clin Neurosci 2013;1(06):224–226. Doi: 10.1111/ncn3.59
https://doi.org/10.1111/ncn3.59...
The MFS associated with GBS presented similar SSP frequency compared with classic sensorimotor (p = 1.00) and MFS (p = 0.65) variants. This finding was expected because they share some pathophysiological components.

The SSP was present in 36% of the patients with MFS, a clinical variant that presents reduced action potentials of sensory nerves and abolished H reflexes.2626 Arányi Z, Kovács T, Sipos I, Bereczki D. Miller Fisher syndrome: brief overview and update with a focus on electrophysiological findings. Eur J Neurol 2012;19(01):15–20, e1–e3. Doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03445.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011...
The pathological process for the decreased SNAP in patients with MFS remains controversial. According to Sekiguchi et al.,1313 Sekiguchi Y, Misawa S, Shibuya K, et al. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in Fisher syndrome: more predominant involvement of group Ia afferents than skin afferents. Clin Neurophysiol 2013;124(07):1465–1469. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.01.020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2013.01...
this process may occur due to a dying-back Wallerian-like degeneration from neuronal injury at the dorsal root ganglion. However, Umapathi et al.2727 Umapathi T, Sheng Jie Christen L, Yuki N. Similar to other forms of axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome, sensory nerves show reversible conduction failure in Fisher syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2014; 125(01):212–213. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.05.029
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2013.05...
improved SNAP amplitude in patients with MFS. This finding was inconsistent with neuronal death and possibly reflected a reversible conduction failure and distal axonal degeneration from nodal and paranodal axolemma dysfunction, similar to the pathophysiology of AMAN and AMSAN.1212 Umapathi T, Tan EY, Kokubun N, Verma K, Yuki N. Non-demyelinating, reversible conduction failure in Fisher syndrome and related disorders. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2012;83(09): 941–948. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-303079
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2012-303079...
Nevertheless, SSP frequency in MFS and demyelinating variants were similar.

Two main hypotheses may explain the SSP. The first is related to the higher susceptibility of median and ulnar nerves to entrapment, which could hamper the blood-nerve barrier and facilitate the attack by autoantibodies; in this case, the sural nerve may be spared.1111 Umapathi T, Li Z, Verma K, Yuki N. Sural-sparing is seen in axonal as well as demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2015;126(12):2376–2380. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01...
,2828 Brown WF, Snow R. Patterns and severity of conduction abnormalities in Guillain-Barré syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1991;54(09):768–774. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp.54.9.768
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.54.9.768...
The second is based on the preferential demyelination on distal nerve terminals and is related to the measurement sites on nerve conduction studies. Since median and ulnar nerves are examined distally, fewer effects of demyelination were expected on the sural nerve since it is examined in an intermediate portion to its terminal.99 Bromberg MB, Albers JW. Patterns of sensory nerve conduction abnormalities in demyelinating and axonal peripheral nerve disorders. Muscle Nerve 1993;16(03):262–266. Doi: 10.1002/ mus.880160304
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.880160304...
,2929 Tamura N, Kuwabara S, Misawa S, Mori M, Nakata M, Hattori T. Superficial radial sensory nerve potentials in immune-mediated and diabetic neuropathies. Clin Neurophysiol 2005;116(10): 2330–2333. Doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2005.07.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2005.07...

This study reinforces that the SSP may be present in demyelinating and axonal subtypes, including AMAN, but with significantly higher frequency in AIDP. Moreover, the clinical variants reflect a specific pathological process and are correlated to its typical electrophysiological subtype, affecting the SSP frequency. The definition criterion may also interfere with this frequency.

SSP should be investigated in patients with acute flaccid paralysis and, when present, be used to support the GBS diagnosis. To investigate SSP, besides the sural nerve, at least one other sensory nerve from the upper limb must be investigated, depending on the definition used.

  • Ethical Considerations
    The study was approved by the research ethics committee of the Onofre Lopes University Hospital of Rio Grande do Norte (no. 4.948.823).

Acknowledgments

We thank the doctors of public and private hospitals from Rio Grande do Norte who helped the patients of this study.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    13 May 2024
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    15 Nov 2023
  • Reviewed
    04 Jan 2024
  • Accepted
    01 Feb 2024
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