IGOS: International GBS Outcome study
Date published: April 18, 2024
Worldwide research into the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of GBS.
Background:
An international group of neurologists and scientists launched the International GBS Outcome Study in 2012. By joining forces across countries and continents, the consortium set out to establish the world’s largest high-quality prospective GBS cohort and biobank to facilitate research into the causes, underlying mechanisms, prognosis, and treatment of GBS.
Objectives:
The main aims of IGOS are to:
- Improve our understanding of the causes of GBS and the factors that influence disease severity, progression, and recovery
- Improve the diagnosis of GBS, particularly during the early stages of the disease
- Develop reliable prognostic tools that help predict the disease course and outcome for individual patients
- Support and stimulate research aimed at developing more effective treatments for GBS
Study design:
The IGOS Consortium brings together researchers and clinicians from 143 centres in 21 countries across five continents. Patients across the full diagnostic spectrum of GBS were eligible for participation, regardless of age, disease severity, or treatment received, provided they are enrolled within two weeks of symptom onset.
Participants were followed prospectively for one to three years. Clinical data were collected at eight predefined time points and included information on neurological symptoms, physical examination findings, treatment, and recovery.
Patients also completed questionnaires assessing residual symptoms, quality of life, and the long-term impact of GBS on daily functioning.
In addition to clinical data, extensive biomaterials were collected, including serum and cerebrospinal fluid, creating a unique resource for biomarker and translational research. Nerve conduction studies were also obtained to improve understanding of the electrophysiological characteristics of GBS.
Current status:
The study successfully reached its target enrolment of 2,000 patients in May 2021, and follow-up of all participants was completed in May 2024. The resulting collection of clinical data and biological samples represents an important resource for advancing GBS research worldwide.With 2,000 enrolled patients, IGOS is the largest prospective international observational cohort study of GBS conducted to date. The study has resulted in 22 peer-reviewed publications and continues to provide the foundation for numerous ongoing research projects.