Guillain-Barre syndrome and Campylobacter jejuni infection. A study on the etiological characteristics of Guillain-Barre syndrome in China

Abstract

Fecal culture for Campylobacter jejuni with the method of Skirrow and serum class specific antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA) against Campylobacter jejuni using a solid phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were performed in 17 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, 17 other neurological disease controls, and 33 normal controls. The results revealed: 1. the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection, especially the recent one in Guillain-Barre Syndrome was much higher than in the other two groups; 2. the recent incidence of infection in those below 30 years old and those within the period of summer and autumn was higher than that above 30 years old and that in the other seasons. The results suggested that Campylobacter jejuni infection might be one of the important precipitating factors of Guillain-Barre syndrome and might play an important role in the epidemiological pattern of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in China.