in those with severe weakness, prompt treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis, together with supportive care, will lead to good recovery in the majority of people. recovery may take weeks to years. about a third have some permanent weakness. globally, death occurs in about 7.5% of those affected. guillain–barré syndrome is rare, at one or two cases per 100,000 people every year. both sexes and all parts of the world have similar rates of disease. the syndrome is named after the french neurologists georges guillain and jean alexandre barré, who described it with french physician andré strohl in 1916.