Martha, a 33-year-old school teacher, is admitted to the unit with symmetrical weakness of lower extremities. After testing, the physician's diagnosis is Guillain-Barre syndrome. The pathophysiologic mechanism of this condition is:

Question

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The pathologic change that occurs in Guillain-Barre is the destruction of the myelin sheath that coats the axon of the peripheral nerves. Demyelination results in poor impulse conduction along neurons resulting in symmetrical muscle weakness that begins in the lower extremities and ascends to the upper extremities, torso, and then cranial nerves.

Martha, a 33-Year-Old School Teacher, Is Admitted to the Unit