Men are affected more commonly than women. Organisms that have been specifically implicated are Campylobacter jejuni , which causes diarrhoea, and Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever. Vaccinations may also precipitate its onset. HIV infections may cause a syndrome like Guillain-Barr Syndrome. The central nervous system is unaffected.
Back pain is a major symptom in about one third of patients.
The sensory symptoms are soon followed by weakness in the legs and arms and may be more pronounced in the proximal muscles. Weakness in the limbs may be in a proximal as well as a distal distribution. Tendon reflexes are usually absent or greatly reduced, and although sensory loss is usually not profound there may be impairment of sensation in a glove and stocking distribution. Sphincter disturbances are present in only a small proportion of cases and should alert the clinician to the possibility of another diagnosis, such as spinal cord compression. Progression of disability may continue for a period of up to four weeks.