A client is admitted with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The doctor performs a lumbar puncture. What would the nurse expect the CSF to reveal? A. Increased glucose and decreased protein B. Increased protein and normal cell count C. Increased red blood cells and elevated WBCs D. Normal protein with increased WBC count

GBS is a rare immune-mediated disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. It generally follows a viral or bacterial infection, causing rapid-onset muscle weakness and paralysis in affected patients. The nerve damage results from an autoimmune response, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheaths of peripheral nerves.

The inflammation and demyelination of peripheral nerves in GBS can lead to characteristic changes in CSF. The most distinctive finding is elevated protein levels in the CSF due to the breakdown of nerve tissue and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. The cell count in CSF, primarily white blood cells (WBCs), remains normal or mildly elevated in most cases. The red blood cell (RBC) count is not significantly affected, and glucose levels are typically not impacted.

Based on our knowledge of GBS and CSF: A. Increased glucose and decreased protein - This option does not reflect the elevated protein levels typically found in GBS patients' CSF. B. Increased protein and normal cell count - This option aligns with our analysis of GBS's effect on CSF. The protein levels are increased while the cell count remains normal or mildly elevated. C. Increased red blood cells and elevated WBCs - This option does not correctly describe the typical CSF findings in GBS patients, as RBC count is not significantly affected and WBC count is rarely elevated. D. Normal protein with increased WBC count - This option contradicts the elevated protein levels characteristic of GBS patients' CSF. Based on our analysis, the correct answer is: B. Increased protein and normal cell count