The Scientific Bit
This section is about the science and understanding behind GBS & CIDP and what it does and how it is caught. GBS & CIDP are very much about the peripheral nerves, In other words, those relating to the limbs. In your body there is a central nervous system, that is in your spinal chord and up to your brain and a peripheral nervous system, these run from the spinal cord along your arms and down your legs. Above is a picture of a normal peripheral nerve. Signals are sent up and down these pathways, when things are normal.
I have tried to make all the scientific bits as easy to read as I can, As one of my main issues is that even when I found the information I couldn't understand it! The best example/word I have found so far is:
monosialotetrahexosylganglioside
This is commonly known as GM1 (may as well be called "Bob" for all I cared!). The relevance is that people with GBS have higher levels of anti-GM1 antibodies and this can interfere with motor neuron function, other antibodies can be relevant depending on the specific strain/type of GBS (e.g. GD3, GD1a, GQ1b - Miller-Fisher).
I have tried to make all the scientific bits as easy to read as I can, As one of my main issues is that even when I found the information I couldn't understand it! The best example/word I have found so far is:
monosialotetrahexosylganglioside
This is commonly known as GM1 (may as well be called "Bob" for all I cared!). The relevance is that people with GBS have higher levels of anti-GM1 antibodies and this can interfere with motor neuron function, other antibodies can be relevant depending on the specific strain/type of GBS (e.g. GD3, GD1a, GQ1b - Miller-Fisher).
General Facts about GBS
These simple facts primarily relate to GBS and associated conditions;
My findings from the survey do not necessarily agree with a few of these.
- Now Polio has largely been eradicated; GBS is the most common neurological disease in the world (Do strokes count?)
- About 1,500 cases of GBS occur in the UK each year
- The worldwide rate is approx 1.3 per 100,000 people annually
- The likelihood of women getting GBS decreases during pregnancy, but increases in the few months afterwards
- Around 20% of patents have residual neural issues
- Approximately 5-10% of people die, usually from respiratory complications
- The amount of research into the "big 5" diseases is astronomical compared with GBS (no surprises there!)
My findings from the survey do not necessarily agree with a few of these.