SERUM ALBUMIN AS AN INDEPENDENT INDICATOR IN GUILLAIN–BARRE SYNDROME PATIENTS UNDERGOING PLASMAPHERESIS

Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated neuropathy of acute onset. Early intervention and management was determined by the identification of readily available biomarkers to forecast the outcome in patients undergoing plasmapheresis. Objective: To investigate the value of serum albumin as a sole prognostic indicator for GBS patients undergoing plasmapheresis, and its association with disease severity, treatment response, and short-term outcomes. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at Department of General Medicine, Northwest General Hospital and Research Centre, Peshawar, Pakistan in the duration from September, 2024 to February, 2025. Sixty GBS patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent measurement of serum albumin both before and after treatment, neurological evaluation, and outcome evaluation. Results: Lower baseline albumin was found to have a significant relation to a higher Hughes Functional Grading Scale score, higher ICU admissions, need for mechanical ventilation, and poorer recovery. A reduction in serum albumin levels was found to be measurable with plasmapheresis. Conclusion: Serum albumin is an easy, inexpensive, and meaningful prognostic biomarker in GBS patients undergoing plasmapheresis, which helps risk stratification and individual care of the patient.