The efficacy of rehabilitation in people with Guillain-Barrè syndrome: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Individuals with Guillain-Barrè syndrome (GBS) showed significant longer-term psychological sequelae, due to persistent disability. In recent years, great advances have been made in medical care for patients with GBS. However, the focus has been mainly on patient care in the acute phase and improving survival instead of long-term disability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation in people with GBS through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Area Covered

PRISMA guidelines were used to perform this systematic review. Six bibliographic databases were searched: PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE, PEDro, CINHAL, PSYCHINFO, and SCOPUS. Papers included in the systematic review should have a search design of a randomized controlled trial. The quality of the clinical trials included was evaluated according to Jadad score.

Expert Opinion

After eliminating duplicates, 472 records got screened, three RCTs were included in the systematic review. Overall, the analysis of the three randomized controlled trials showed that various types of rehabilitation interventions are correlated to an improvement in the patient’s well-being. Finally, it is not possible to extrapolate definite conclusions on the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment in patients with GBS. Therefore, high-quality future studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses.

KEYWORDS:

• Guillain-Barrè syndrome
• proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
• quality of life
• rehabilitation
• systematic review

Article highlights

• The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation in people with Guillain-Barrè syndrome.

• A total of 748 studies were retrieved from the search and 141 were evaluated after the first screening. After excluding 138 studies, 3 suitable randomized controlled trials were included.

• The analysis of the three randomized controlled trials showed that various types of rehabilitation interventions are correlated to an improvement in the patient’s well-being.

• Patients who survive the acute phase of Guillain-Barrè syndrome can develop different types of disabilities. Only one RCT evaluated different outcomes and used a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of GBS.

• Our review highlighted that there is little quality evidence in Guillain-Barrè rehabilitation. However, it is performed extensively in clinical practice, and for this reason, higher quality studies with high levels of evidence are required.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.