Self-reported autonomic dysfunction in a recovery phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract Objective Autonomic dysfunction occurs in approximately two-thirds of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients in the acute phase of the disease. Although improving over time, subclinical autonomic involvement may be present for 3-8 years after the GBS episode. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of self-reported autonomic disorders in GBS patients three and six months after disease onset compared to healthy controls (HCs). Methods Our study included adult patients diagnosed with GBS from May 2017 until May 2018 in seven healthcare centers (67.6% with demyelinating and 13.6% with axonal syubtype). Functional disability was assessed by the Guillain-Barre syndrome disability scale (GDS). Each subject filled in the Serbian version of the SCOPA-Aut questionnaire. Using GDS and SCOPA-Aut, patients were tested at month 3 (M3) (n = 71) and month 6 (M6) (n = 70) from symptom onset. Results Dysautonomia was more common in patients with GBS compared to HCs at M3 (p   0.05). Among autonomic disorders, constipation, complications to pass stool, and orthostatic hypotension were the most frequently reported. Patients with axonal variants had worse total SCOPA-Aut scores at M3 in comparison to AIDP patients (11.7 ± 10.1 vs. 6.1 ± 5.1, p  Conclusion Autonomic symptoms are common in GBS patients during the recovery phase. They are more pronounced in patients with axonal forms of GBS and those with a higher degree of functional disability.