If you have Guillain-Barré syndrome, you will initially be treated in hospital as an emergency, and your respiration rate (breathing) will be carefully monitored. Depending on your condition, you may be treated in:
- a general ward
- a neurology ward – a ward specialising in neurological conditions (conditions affecting the nervous system)
- an intensive care unit (ICU) – a special ward that provides intensive care (treatment and monitoring) for people who are in a critically ill or unstable condition
- a high-dependency unit – one step down from an ICU, more intense treatment is given in a high-dependency unit than in a general ward
If you have breathing problems, you may be put on a ventilator (a machine that helps you to breathe). Around a quarter of people with Guillain-Barré syndrome will need a ventilator.
There are two main treatments to reduce the severity of Guillain-Barré syndrome and help you recover more quickly:
- intravenous immunoglobulin
- plasma exchange (plasmapheresis)
These treatments target the antibodies (infection-fighting proteins) in your blood that are reacting to your peripheral nerves and damaging them. See Guillain-Barré syndrome - causes for more information about the role that antibodies play in causing the condition.
Intravenous immunoglobulin is slightly safer and much easier to give than plasma exchange. However, both types of treatment are equally effective.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)
Immunoglobulin is another name for antibodies. These are the proteins in your blood that are produced by your immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness) to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses.
During IVIg, healthy immunoglobulin is taken from blood donors and given to you intravenously (directly into a vein). The healthy antibodies block and destroy the harmful antibodies that are attacking your nerves. You will usually receive a dose of IVIg every day for around five days.
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis)
Plasma is the yellowish fluid that is found in blood. It transports blood cells and platelets around the body and contains a number of substances, including proteins. Platelets are cell fragments that help the blood to clot.
During plasma exchange, you are connected to a machine that removes some of your blood. The plasma is separated from the blood cells and removed. The blood cells are then put back into your body without the harmful plasma cells that attack the nerves. Your blood cells will then go on to produce healthy plasma to replace what was taken.
You may have several sessions of plasma exchange depending on the severity of your condition.
See the Health A-Z topic about Plasma products - how they are used for more information about the procedure.
Monitoring your condition
If you are being treated for Guillain-Barré syndrome, you may need to spend several weeks in hospital. During this time you will be closely monitored to check your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
As well as the treatments explained above, you may be given painkillers if you are in pain, and any other necessary medication. For example, if you develop a problem with your heart rate or blood pressure, you may need further medication to treat this.
Once you start to recover, you may be moved to a general ward in the hospital before being discharged. You may continue to receive treatment to help your recovery. See Guillain-Barré syndrome - recovery for more information.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are a type of medicine that contains steroids (a type of hormone). Hormones are powerful chemicals that have a wide range of effects on the body.
Corticosteroids are often used to reduce inflammation. In theory, this should reduce the nerve damage that occurs in Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, so far there is no evidence to show a significant benefit for using corticosteroids for this condition.
One review looking at the evidence for corticosteroids found that intravenous corticosteroids (given directly into a vein) might speed up recovery if they are given with intravenous immunoglobulin. However, corticosteroid tablets delayed recovery. More research is still needed to find out whether corticosteroids are of real use for treating Guillain-Barré syndrome.
