| BACKGROUND: To determine the predictors of achieving
independent walking at 2 and 6 months after onset of
weakness in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).
METHODS: Children with GBS admitted to the Tabriz
Children’s Hospital were studied prospectively. All patients
had frequent clinical evaluations until achieving independent
walking. Unaided walking at 2 and 6 months and factors
influencing these outcomes were determined using both
univariate and multiple analyses.
RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2014, 324 children (mean age:
5.3 ± 3.66 years) were admitted. The mean duration to
independent walking was 2.97 ± 3.02 months; 90.5% of
patients could walk independently at 6 months. In the
univariate analysis, disability score of 43 (P = 0.03), autonomic
nerve involvement (P = 0.003), cranial nerve involvement
(P = 0.008), and absent compound muscle action potential
(CMAP; P = 0.048) were found to be significantly associated
with poor walking outcome at 6 months. In the multivariate
analysis, cranial nerve involvement (P = 0.008) and absence of
CMAP (P = 0.022) were independently associated with poor
functional outcome.
CONCLUSION: Disability score 43, cranial and autonomic
nerve involvement, and absence of CMAP were predictors of
independent walking in childhood GBS in this study; early
rehabilitation program may prevent further impairments
secondary to immobility in these patients. |