Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Immunotherapy

Topic Overview

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare nerve disorder that occurs when the body's own defenses (immune system) attack part of the nervous system. For this reason, you may be treated with immunotherapy, which is designed to alter or combat the abnormal immune response by removing the antibodies that are attacking your body.

Two types of immunotherapy may be used to treat Guillain-Barré syndrome:

• Plasma exchange, or plasmapheresis, is a procedure in which the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood is separated from the red and white blood cells and replaced with a saltwater (saline) and albumin (protein) solution. It removes antibodies and other potentially harmful factors from the bloodstream. Plasma exchange requires access to large veins, which may not be possible in some people, and it may be risky in older people or in some people who have heart disease.
• Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is a medicine often used to boost the body's immune system and make it better able to fight disease. Immune globulins (also called gamma globulins) are proteins in human blood. These proteins are antibodies, which help the body's immune system recognize and destroy foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. Because immune globulin is made from donated blood fluids, it is sometimes in short supply and may not be available everywhere.

One of these treatments is often started immediately after you have been diagnosed if you seem to be getting worse. Early treatment may reduce your recovery time.

Plasma exchange and IVIG appear to be equally effective when given early in the course of the disease. They also have similar costs. The choice between one or the other treatment may depend on what is available and most practical.