Pathological features noted at autopsy in nine cases of GBS are described

and correlated with the clinical picture.Characteristically

a perivenular inflammatory response

composed primarily of lymphocytes and macrophages

occurs in a segment

or group of segments

and extends from the most proximal nerve root to the distal nerve twigs. However

in some cases a propensity for motor root involvement was found. Segmental demyelin-ation was observed

very often in association with areas of inflammation. From this study we came to the conclusion that distal motor paralysis

as observed clinically

is probably related to particular damage to the proximal nerve roots as opposed to the distal parts of the nerves.- Four points in particular were noted with respect to the pathology of GBS. Firstly

the damage of the peripheral nerves in

most cases became obvious about one week after the beginning of the attack. Secondly

damage of the motor roots was found to be more marked than that of the sensory roots. Thirdly

lesions in the proximal nerve roots were more prominent than in the distal nerve twigs. Finally

we found that cranial nerves sustained less damage than spinal nerves.One case out of the nine showed acute perivennlar cerebral detnyelination.