Guillain Barre Syndrome 101: What You Need To Know

The Different Types

There are numerous forms of Guillain-Barre syndrome, including acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), as well as acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). AIDP is the most common type in the United States, and its most common symptom is muscle weakness that starts in the lower extremities and spreads upward. Miller Fisher syndrome is characterized by paralysis beginning in the eyes and is associated with an unsteady gait. It occurs in only five percent of Americans but is most common in Asia. AMAN and AMSAN are the least common in the United States and are more frequent in China, Japan, and Mexico.