Acute demyelinating inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy

Acute demyelinating inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) is the most common form of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Infiltration of the nervous tissue by lymphocytes and macrophages results in the destruction of the myelin.

This inflammatory neuropathy can be broken down into three phases. In the first two phases, there is a gradual increase in symptoms; the third phase is referred to as a recovery phase, as it causes a slow regression of symptoms.

Acute demyelinating inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy usually begins with limb and back pain as well as numbness. It is followed by ascending, symmetrical motor paresis. Paresis of the respiratory and swallowing muscles are life-threatening and require intensive care. In addition to the voluntary nervous system, the autonomic nervous system may also be affected by cardiac, gastrointestinal or other autonomic dysregulation. Overall, mortality is between 5 and 15%. The extent of the manifestation is very variable (from barely noticeable restrictions to severe paresis large parts of the body).

In a large proportion of patients, the symptoms completely disappear over the course of days to months.