Hypertension and papilloedema in the Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Abstract

Patients (3) with the Guillain-Barre Syndrome were described, one of whom was relapsing. Hypertension persisted for 3-4 mo. in 2 patients, associated with increased urinary excretion of catecholamines. Baroreceptor sensitivity, although depressed, did not explain the hypertension. It may be due to lesions affecting either central vasomotor control or peripheral sympathetic nerve activity. Two patients had papilledema. This has been attributed in the literature to defective reabsorption of CSF due to high protein concentration. Normal reabsorption of isotope labeled albumin from the subarachnoid space argued against this explanation in these cases.