Diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were devised in 1978 at the request of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (NINCDS, now NINDS). The basis for issuing diagnostic criteria related to the swine flu vaccine incident of 1976-1977, which is reviewed in more detail elsewhere in the proceedings of this symposium. At the previous conference on Guillain-Barré syndrome in 1981, clarification of these diagnostic criteria was offered. In the intervening eight years it has become apparent that further comments and elaboration on the diagnostic criteria first stated in 1978 are in order. The reader should recognize that the suggestions made are solely the opinions of the authors and are not officially sanctioned by the NINDS or any neurological societies. The definition of GBS and criteria for diagnosis are reproduced below as they were first published in the Annals of Neurology in 1978. These are followed by a series of comments and suggested modifications.  >>> leia o artigo >>>