Ischemic compression paresthesias in Guillain-Barre syndrome
A. H. Ropper
Division of Neurology, St Elizabeth's Hospital, Boston, Mass. 02135.
An experiment in nine patients tested the similarities and interactions
between the paresthesias of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and
tourniquet-induced compression paresthesias. During brachial compression,
GBS paresthesias diminished in five of seven patients and new paresthesias
occurred in two patients with purely motor GBS. Beginning 1 to 4 minutes
after release of the cuff, all patients had new paresthesias,
distinguishable from GBS symptoms. The novel finding was that GBS
paresthesias diminished or ceased during the postcompression period in five
of seven patients. Demyelinated peripheral nerves in GBS apparently can
generate and transmit the spontaneous activity associated with paresthesias
in the postcompression period. Interference occurs between the two types of
paresthesias, possibly because both are caused by spontaneous ectopic
activity in tactile nerves.
