Guillain-Barré syndrome

noun

Guil·​lain-Bar·​ré syndrome ˌgē-ˌlan-ˌbä-ˈrā- How to pronounce Guillain-Barré syndrome (audio)
ˌgē-yaⁿ-
: an uncommon autoimmune disorder of sudden onset that is an inflammatory neuropathy affecting the peripheral nervous system, that is initially marked by tingling, numbness, weakness, or loss of sensation in the feet and legs usually spreading to the arms, upper body, and face, that often causes severe nerve pain and breathing difficulties and sometimes progresses to paralysis and in rare instances death

Note: The cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome is unknown but individuals often experience onset a few weeks after a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. Recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome typically occurs within six to twelve months from initial onset but may take up to three years. Upon recovery, some individuals may have residual numbness, tingling, and weakness.

Examples of Guillain-Barré syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome after Covid infection was six times greater, and the risk of developing it after vaccination was 0.41 times greater than the control group, according to a 2023 study published in Neurology. Arianna Johnson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 There was a hint of a rare but serious risk — one case of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause usually temporary paralysis, and two cases of a type of brain and spinal cord inflammation. Lauran Neergaard, Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2023 English has been inspired by captain Tim Donahue, who was diagnosed earlier this year with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Ethan Winter, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023 Much of Tuesday's meeting centered on two cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological reaction, diagnosed in two people out of about 20,000 who received Pfizer's shot. Matthew Perrone, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023 The company similarly reported a potential case of Guillain-Barre syndrome among vaccine recipients but said there was insufficient evidence to confirm a diagnosis. Janelle Chavez, CNN, 24 Feb. 2023 Other rare cases of heart inflammation called myocarditis, mostly in young men, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, where the body attacks the nerves, have also been reported with the vaccines. al, 3 Aug. 2021 Christopher Cross on his near-fatal COVID illness Earlier this year singer-songwriter Christopher Cross contracted COVID-19, and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disease affecting the body's immune system. CBS News, 15 Oct. 2020 For example, the countermeasures program covered a rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that occurred in some people who received the vaccine against the H1N1 flu strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. Susan Pulliam, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Guillain-Barré syndrome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Georges Guillain †1961 French physician and Jean A. Barré †1967 French neurologist

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Guillain-Barré syndrome was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guilin

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillaume

Cite this Entry

“Guillain-Barré syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Guillain-Barr%C3%A9%20syndrome. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

Guillain-Barré syndrome

noun
Guil·​lain-Bar·​ré syndrome ˌgē-ˌlan-ˌbä-ˈrā- How to pronounce Guillain-Barré syndrome (audio) ˌgē-yaⁿ- How to pronounce Guillain-Barré syndrome (audio)
: an uncommon autoimmune disorder of sudden onset that is an inflammatory neuropathy affecting the peripheral nervous system, that is initially marked by tingling, numbness, weakness, or loss of sensation in the feet and legs usually spreading to the arms, upper body, and face, that often causes severe nerve pain and breathing difficulties, and sometimes progresses to paralysis and in rare instances death

Note: The cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome is unknown but individuals often experience onset a few weeks after a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. Recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome typically occurs within six to twelve months from initial onset but may take up to three years. Upon recovery, some individuals may have residual numbness, tingling, and weakness.

abbreviation GBS

called also Landry's paralysis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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