[Clinical symptoms and diagnostic criteria in polyradiculitis--Landry Guillain Barré].

Acute polyradiculitis ("acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculitis--AIDP" or the Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome--GBS) is an acute inflammatory disease of the peripheral nervous system. Despite extremely severe courses and complications, the prognosis is favourable for the majority of patients. The typical clinical course is featured by non-characteristic sensory symptoms following an infection, with ensuing ascending motor signs and symptoms which, in 80% of the patients, reach a maximum within two weeks. The legs are usually involved before the arms. About 50% of the patients show involvement of cranial nerves. In the acute phase, respiratory insufficiency and autonomous dysfunctions may occur. For diagnosis, predominantly clinical criteria are used according to the criteria summarized by Asbury.