[S-27] Current topics in Guillain-Barré syndrome - from pathophysiology to clinical features

[S-27-3] New observations from the International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS)

Bart Jacobs (Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands)

This symposium is designed to introduce novel international studies of clinical and basic research from leading laboratories as well as to discuss current topics in the field of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS) which has been just accomplished is a worldwide prospective, collaborative study of GBS, results of which will be global standards and provide evidence about a new clinical guideline of GBS. In addition, recently-reported new observations of antibody-mediated pathophysiology in GBS are expected to improve diagnostic approach, change the concept of electrophysiological categories, and develop promising immunotherapies and treatment strategy. This symposium will stimulate neurologists to absorb such novel knowledge and to put it to a practical use without regard to their specialty.

Bart C. Jacobs, is a professor of Neurology and Immunology at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. His specialty interests are inflammatory neuropathies, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). As a clinical neurologists he is involved in the diagnosis, treatment and care of these patients at the expertise center at Erasmus MC. As a researcher he has a special interest in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment development of GBS and CIDP. He received his MD in 1992 and his PhD in 1997 from Erasmus MC. He worked as a research fellow at Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, and at University of Glasgow, UK. His neurology residency was completed at Erasmus MC in 2003 and since then he worked at the departments of Neurology and Immunology at that center. In 2012 he initiated the International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS) in which he is currently involved as chair of the steering committee and as country coordinator for the Netherlands. Dr. Jacobs is a member of the Inflammatory Neuropathy Consortium Board and the GBS-CIDP Foundation Global Medical Advisory Board. He is the principle coordinator of the Erasmus MC Center of Neuro-Inflammation.