Effect of conduction block in classification and prognosis of Guillain‑Barre syndrome

Aim: The aim was to investigate the electro‑physiological characteristics in disease progression of Guillain‑Barre syndrome (GBS) and observe the effect of conduction block (CB) in classification and severity of the disease.Methods: Two hundred and ninety‑four patients with GBS were divided into acute inflammatory demyelinating poly‑neuropathy (AIDP) group, acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) group and equivocal group according to their electro‑physiological results and then reclassificated after electro‑physiological review. All of the patients were followed for 6 months since their attacks.Results: Bad prognosis is more pronounced in AMAN group than in AIDP group (P < 0.05). Most of the patients classificated as AIDP transformed into AMAN when CB occurred in the early phase of the disease. There is a positive relationship between CB in the early phase of the disease and severity of illness (P < 0.05), but CB showed no correlation with prognosis of the patients (P > 0.05).Conclusion: CB in the early phase of GBS indicates the probability of AIDP transforming into AMAN; it suggests that patients with CB in the early phase of the disease might be in serious conditions in a certain extent