Arrhythmic complications in the Guillain-Barré syndrome
Greenland, P.; Griggs, R.C.
Archives of Internal Medicine 140(8): 1053-1055
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9926 PMID: 7396609 Document Number: 168299
The occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) was examined in a retrospective study of 16 consecutive patients with GBS admitted to an intensive care unit primarily for respiratory insufficiency. Bradyarrhythmias, including sinus arrest or atrioventricular block rhythms, and/or tachyarrhythmias, supraventricular as well as ventricular, were observed in 13 patients. Two patients required pacemaker insertion because of recurrent asystolic episodes. Of the 4 fatalities, however, none was considered cardiac in origin. While clinically apparent autonomic nervous system dysfunction accompanied many of the observed arrhythmias and may be involved in arrhythmogenesis, these patients also suffered from pulmonary, infectious and thromboembolic complications that could produce similar arrhythmic complications and must also be considered whenever such arrhythmias are seen.