Campylobacter Infection and Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Egypt

Sample size: 507 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Wierzba Thomas F., Abdel-Messih Ibrahim Adib, Gharib Bayoumi, Baqar Shahida, Hendaui Amina, Khalil Ibrahim, Omar Tarek A., Khayat Hamed E., Putnam Shannon D., Sanders John W., Ng Lai-King, Price Lawrence J., Scott Daniel A., Frenck Robert R.

Primary Institution: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt

Hypothesis

Is Campylobacter infection a trigger for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Egypt?

Conclusion

The study found that GBS cases in Egypt were more likely to have a history of Campylobacter infection and higher antibody levels against Campylobacter and gangliosides compared to controls.

Supporting Evidence

63.3% of GBS cases were demyelinating type.
Cases were more likely to have diarrhea compared to controls (29.5% vs. 22.5%).
Higher geometric mean IgM anti-Campylobacter antibody titers were found in cases (8.18) compared to controls (7.25).
35.3% of cases produced antiganglioside antibodies compared to 11.5% of controls.

Takeaway

This study shows that getting sick from Campylobacter bacteria can lead to a serious illness called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, especially in young children in Egypt.