Guillain-Barre syndrome

This code represents Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an acute, autoimmune demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy affecting the peripheral nervous system. It is characterized by rapidly progressive, ascending muscle weakness and areflexia, often following an infection. The condition can range from mild weakness to complete paralysis and respiratory failure.

Use this code for confirmed diagnoses of Guillain-Barré syndrome, regardless of the specific subtype (e.g., AIDP, AMAN, AMSAN) when a more specific code is not available or documented. Documentation should clearly state the diagnosis of GBS, typically supported by clinical presentation, nerve conduction studies, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

• Do not use this code for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which has a separate code.
• Ensure documentation specifies "acute" or "Guillain-Barré" to differentiate from other polyneuropathies.
• Code any associated manifestations or complications, such as respiratory failure, separately.