GBS Foundation
The GBS Foundation supports the Erasmus MC, which coordinates a worldwide research into the cause, diagnosis and treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
What is GBS?
The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious form of nerve inflammation. This creates a rapidly progressive paralysis of the arms and legs. GBS can also cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles for which patients need to be ventilated on an Intensive Care. The impact of GBS is huge, even if a good recovery occurs. For example, read this blog.
What causes GBS?
GBS is caused by an abnormal immune response to an infection. The treatment of GBS is aimed at inhibiting inflammation, for example with immunoglobulins. However, the current treatment does not help enough. Patients still die from GBS and many patients remain disabled or have symptoms such as pain and severe fatigue.
For more information about GBS see the link to the website of the Patient association Spierziekten Nederland.
Who will get GBS?
As far as is known now, everyone can get GBS, also very healthy people. GBS also occurs in children aged a few months but the risk increases with age and is higher in men. The number of people who receive GBS per year in the Netherlands is 200-300, 100,000 worldwide.
Why is research needed?
The current treatment of GBS is not good enough and needs to be improved. This is only possible by conducting scientific research. Erasmus MC in Rotterdam is among the world leaders when it comes to research into GBS and other forms of nerve inflammation. Erasmus MC coordinates a global study into the cause, diagnosis and treatment of GBS.
For more information about this research, see Research .
The GBS Foundation supports this research financially because with more subsidies a solution can be found for GBS more quickly.
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