It usually starts as tingling and weakness in the legs, and may ascend to affect use of muscles in the arms and even muscles used for breathing. The cause is not known.
Most patients recover completely in weeks to years, but many are paralyzed for a time.
During this period they need hospital care, sometimes requiring help breathing. Treatment using plasmapheresis or immunoglobulins usually shortens the duration of illness. The materials in this section have been chosen to provide a solid introduction to your health condition. They explain anatomy and physiology, give descriptive overviews of the disease, and include a glossary of the medical terms you will come across in the rest of your report. Stroke A comprehensive overview of the autoimmune disease Guillain-Barre syndrome.