Guillain-Barré syndrome for the nonneurologist

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory peripheral nerve disorder in which symptoms progress over days and typically reach a nadir by 2 to 3 weeks. The possibility of respiratory insufficiency and death makes GBS a neuromuscular emergency requiring prompt recognition, urgent evaluation, and close management. While the diagnosis is often straightforward, certain important features point to other disorders.