Guillian Barre Syndrome & Elevated Bilirubin

Guillain-Barre Syndrome and elevated bilirubin levels are not in any way connected. In fact, elevated bilirubin levels are associated with Gilbert's Disease, a disease affecting the way bilirubin is processed by the liver.

Definitions

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome is defined by Medicine Net as "a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system." The peripheral nervous system connects your brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body. According to Medline Plus, damage to these nerves "makes it hard for them to transmit signals. As a result, your muscles have trouble responding to your brain."

  According to Wrong Diagnosis, bilirubin is defined as "the product of the breakdown of old red blood cells and one of the components of bile. Bilirubin is mixed into bile in the liver and has a yellowish color. Bilirubin is carried into the digestive system in bile and is mixed with feces and excreted."

  Elevated bilirubin then is defined as higher than normal levels of the bilirubin.

  By definition alone, these two conditions are not related.

Symptoms

• The symptoms for Guillain-Barre Syndrome include weakness usually beginning in the legs, paresthesia or decreased feeling, the inability of the reflexes to work as well as they used to, and as Medicine Net notes, breathing can be affected in the most severe cases. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, migraines, low grade fevers and chills.

  Elevated bilirubin can lead to Gilbert's Disease. Symptoms of this disease are fatigue and jaundice, or yellowing of the skin.

Causes

• There are no known causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. However, according to Medicine Net, scientists believe the body's immune system attacks itself. The Medicine Net website states that in Guillain-Barre Syndrome, "the immune system starts to destroy the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of many peripheral nerves, or even the axons themselves."

Treatment

• While there is no known cure for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, there is therapy that can lessen the severity of the illness. For example, there is plasmapheresis, also called plasma exchange, and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy.

  According to Mayo Clinic, plasmapheresis is a "type of blood cleansing in which damaging antibodies are removed from your blood. Plasmapheresis consists of removing the liquid portion of your blood (plasma) and separating it from the actual blood cells. The blood cells are then put back into your body, which manufactures more plasma to make up for what was removed."

  With high-dose immunoglobulin therapy, doctors give IV injections of the proteins. Small quantities of these proteins allow the immune system to naturally attack the invading organism.

  According to Medline Plus, there is no treatment necessary for Gilbert's Disease.

Prognosis

• Because of its sudden onset, Guillain-Barre Syndrome can be a devastating illness. Those afflicted reach the greatest weakness within a few days to a few weeks following onset. Recovery can take months or years. According to Medicine Net, about three percent "may suffer a relapse of muscle weakness and tingling sensations many years after the initial attack."

  With Gilbert's Disease, the prognosis is a good one. Though the jaundice may come and go like a common cold, it won't cause lasting health problems.