Guillain-Barré syndrome: an ultrastructural study of peripheral nerve in 65 patients
Brechenmacher, C.; Vital, C.; Deminiere, C.; Laurentjoye, L.; Castaing, Y.; Gbikpi-Benissan, G.; Cardinaud, J.P.; Favarel-Garrigues, J.P.
Clinical Neuropathology 6(1): 19-24
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0722-5091 PMID: 3552352 Document Number: 296290
65 biopsies of peripheral nerve from patients suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome were studied by electron microscopy. In 48 cases there was macrophagic invasion of the Schwann cells of certain myelinated fibers, and in 32 of these cases some myelin sheaths were stripped away by an elongated macrophagic process. Vesticular disruption of the myelin sheath was observed in only 8 cases and in less than 1% of the myelinated fibers. Uncompacted myelin lamellae were observed in a few myelinated fibers. These ultrastructural lesions are analyzed and commented on with a view to selecting patients who are to undergo plasma exchange.