PHARYNGEAL-CERVICAL-BRACHIAL VARIANT: AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant is a rare presentation of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), which is symbolized by oroparhyngeal, cervical and upper limb weakness. It is often wrongly diagnosed as brainstem stroke, myasthenia gravis or botulism. The presence of anti-GT1a and anti-GQ1b ganglioside IgG antibodies and axonal electrophysiological pattern are the hallmark of PCB variant. The treatment is similar to any other variant of GBS. We present here, report of a 20-year-old male, who presented with findings suggestive of PCB variant of GBS but had absent anti-GT1a and anti-GQ1b antibodies and a normal cerebrospinal fluid. He made a remarkable recovery after administration of intravenous immunoglobulins.
Article Details
Work published in KMUJ is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online
(e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
REFERENCES
Yuki N, Hartung HP. Guillain-Barré syndrome. N Engl J Med 2012;366(24):2294-304. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1114525.
Emilia-Romagna Study Group on Clinical and Epidemiological Problems in Neurology. Guillain-Barré syndrome variants in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 1992-3: incidence, clinical features, and prognosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;65(2):218-24. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.65.2.218.
Wakerley BR, Yuki N. Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2014;85(3):339-44. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-305397.
Compston A. Aids to the investigation of peripheral nerve injuries. Medical Research Council: Nerve Injuries Research Committee. His Majesty's Stationery Office: 1942; pp. 48 (iii) and 74 figures and 7 diagrams; with aids to the examination of the peripheral nervous system. By Michael O'Brien for the Guarantors of Brain. Saunders Elsevier: 2010; pp. [8] 64 and 94 Figures. Brain 2010;133(10):2838-44. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awq270.
Ropper AH. Unusual clinical variants and signs in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Arch Neurol 1986;43(11):1150-2. DOI: 10.1001/archneur.1986.00520110044012.
Nagashima T, Koga M, Odaka M, Hirata K, Yuki N. Continuous spectrum of pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Arch Neurol 2007;64(10):1519-23. DOI: 10.1001/archneur.64.10.1519.
Tariq M, Afreen A. Pharyngeal cervical brachial variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome requiring prolonged ventilatory support. Pak Armed Forces Med J 2017; 67(6): 1092-3.