Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome with delayed facial diplegia

Masahiko Atsumi, M.D.1), Masataka Kitaguchi, M.D.1), Yuko Chimoto, M.D.1), Shogo Nishikawa, M.D.1), Haruyuki Mineta, M.D.1), Yoshikuni Nakasaka, M.D.1), Hisashi Tanaka, M.D.1) and Keiichiro Susuki, M.D.2)

1)Department of Neurology, Baba Memorial Hospital, 2)Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine

We described a patient with ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome who subsequently developed facial diplegia. A 38-year-old man developed ataxia, distal limb paresthesias, mild dysphagia, urinary retention and orthostatic hypotension a week after an episode of laryngitis. He had high titers of serum anti-GQ1b, anti-GD1b, anti-GM1b, anti-GT1a, and anti-GD1a IgG antibodies during the acute phase. Although the initial symptoms markedly improved by intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, asymmetric facial diplegia subsequently occurred and remained longer than ataxia. Similar course of facial nerve palsy has been reported in patients with Fisher syndrome. Common pathophysiological mechanism may function in the development of delayed facial diplegia in Fisher syndrome and ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 43: 548|551, 2003)
key words: ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome, facial diplegia, Fisher syndrome, anti-ganglioside antibodies

(Received: 3-Jun-03)