What are the expected findings on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis in a case of Guillain-Barre syndrome?

In Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), the typical findings in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis are known as albuminocytologic dissociation. This term describes a combination of a normal glucose level, a normal white blood cell (WBC) count, and an elevated protein level.

In GBS, the disease affects the peripheral nerves and leads to an immune-mediated demyelination. While the WBC count remains largely unchanged, indicating no significant inflammatory response from white blood cells, the protein level in the CSF becomes elevated due to the breakdown of the blood-nerve barrier and the increase of proteins leaking into the CSF as a result of nerve damage. Glucose levels typically remain normal because GBS does not significantly affect the glucose metabolism in the cerebrospinal fluid.

The other options describe abnormal findings that aren’t characteristic of Guillain-Barre syndrome. For instance, decreased glucose levels often suggest conditions such as bacterial meningitis or other central nervous system infections, while a high WBC count could indicate an inflammatory process or infection that is not typical for GBS. Therefore, the expected finding of normal glucose, normal WBC count, and elevated protein accurately represents the alterations seen in the CSF of patients with