brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Diagnosis of GBS
A doctor's evaluation Electromyography and nerve conduction studies, magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests, and a spinal tap Doctors can usually diagnose Guillain-Barré syndrome based on the pattern of symptoms. However, tests are done to confirm the diagnosis. If doctors suspect Guillain-Barré syndrome, people are admitted to the hospital to have the tests because the syndrome can worsen rapidly and impair the muscles involved in breathing. Breathing is evaluated frequently. Tests may include the following: Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (which surrounds the brain and spinal cord) obtained by a Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture) Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies None Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Blood tests These tests can help doctors exclude other possible causes of severe weakness, which may resemble Guillain-Barré syndrome. For example, MRI can help exclude Compression of the Spinal Cord (for example, by a tumor or an abscess) and A combination of high protein levels and few or no white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid and characteristic results from electromyography strongly suggest Guillain-Barré syndrome. 