GBS Genetics Study
Guillain-Barré Syndrome, called GBS for short, is a rare but serious disease of the nerves that causes weakness of the muscles of the legs, arms or face. Often people who get GBS have to be admitted to hospital with difficulty walking, or in more serious cases, difficulty breathing. The disease usually lasts for a few days or weeks and in the end, 90% of people get better completely, but a few may still have trouble walking or other problems afterwards. Often GBS is a reaction to an infection, such as a cough or cold, or diarrhea, which started a few days or weeks before GBS. In more rare cases, GBS appears to be a reaction to a vaccine. The purpose of this research study is to learn more about GBS, including what causes it, how it happens and why some people get GBS after an infection or a vaccine, but other people do not. This will include analysis of hereditary factors (genes) that may be related to GBS. By looking at this information and studying blood tests and other specimens, we might learn why GBS happens. To date, there have been no studies that have attempted to identify hereditary (genetic) factors in vaccine associated GBS. The study is sponsored by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The research will take place at Boston Medical Center and at other hospitals, universities and clinics in the United States.
If you are a physician or other medical care provider with questions about GBS following vaccine, you can contact us through our Clinical Consults page.