The Treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome by modified plasma exchange--a cost effective method for developing countries

Abstract

Six patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome were treated by modified plasma exchange. Five of them showed a rapid improvement which was not consistent with the natural history of the disease. The improvement was assessed by monitoring vital capacity and muscle power, grading the ability to perform motor functions and by the duration of the hospital stay. The method of plasma exchange we used was simpler and cheaper than the conventional method. We recommend the use of our method, especially in developing countries with financial constraints and poor facilities.Six patients with the Guillain-Barre syndrome were treated by modified plasma exchange. Five of them showed a rapid improvement which was not consistent with the natural history of the disease. The improvement was assessed by monitoring vital capacity and muscle power, grading the ability to perform motor functions and by the duration of the hospital stay. The method of plasma exchange we used was simpler and cheaper than the conventional method. We recommend the use of our method, especially in developing countries with financial constraints and poor facilities.