Anti-ganglioside complex antibody profiles in a recurrent complicated case of GQ1b-seronegative miller fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis: a case report

Recurrent Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with the Second Episode of Campylobacter jejuni Infection

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases are generally monophasic, and recurrence is rare. However, the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of recurrent GBS remain to be fully elucidated. There are few detailed reports of patients who have been infected twice with Campylobacter jejuni and have developed GBS twice. We herein report a case of recurrent GBS in a 21-year-old man with a history of GBS caused by C. jejuni infection at 19 years old. Although our patient was reinfected with C. jejuni, several different anti-ganglioside antibodies were identified, and the clinical manifestations were more severe than those in the first GBS episode. We compared the anti-ganglioside antibodies and nerve conduction studies findings between the two GBS episodes. This case suggested that different antibodies are involved and produce different symptoms even when C. jejuni infection is the trigger in recurrent episodes.

Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis mimicking herpetic encephalomyelitis in a liver transplant patient with anti-GQ1b antibodies

A woman in her late 70s with a history of liver transplant presented with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, areflexia, positive Babinski’s sign and reduced consciousness. This followed an antecedent illness in the form of a herpes zoster infection. MRI of the brain/spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid analysis with viral PCR and routine blood tests were normal, and tacrolimus neurotoxicity was ruled out. Serum anti-GQ1b antibodies were positive. A diagnosis of Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis was made, forming part of the continuum that involves Miller-Fisher syndrome, entitled the ‘anti-GQ1b syndrome’. Complete recovery ensued without intravenous immunoglobulins or plasma exchange. The role of monitoring anti-ganglioside pattern change to predict or confirm disease recurrence and disease severity is further discussed.

Recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome presenting as pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant with three species of ganglioside antibodies:case report

BACKGROUND

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is generally considered to be monophasic, and recurrent GBS (RGBS) is very rare. Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) is a less common variant of GBS. There have been no cases reported describing RGBS showing different phenotype presenting as PCB variant with three species of ganglioside antibodies.

CASE PRESENTATION

 We report a case of a 77-year-old female patient with GT1a, GD1a and sulfatide-seropositive PCB-GBS after prior episode of AMAN-GBS 13 years ago. Our patient showed oropharyngeal and cervicobrachial weakness associated with areflexia in the upper limbs and partially improved after 5 days of IVIG and physiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

This study reports a rare case characterized as recurrent GBS after a long period, showing different phenotypes in different episodes with three different species of ganglioside antibodies. Further studies are required to obtain better understanding of RGBS and PCB variant.

AntiGQ1b antibody positive with MFS/GBS overlapped syndrome with diplopia and hemiplegia onset: Case report and retrospective analysis

RATIONALE

GBS and MFS have been divided into several subtypes, constituting a series of independent and overlapping syndromes that share similar pathophysiology, leading to common clinical features, including history of previous infection, single-phase course, symmetry, skull or limbs weakness, CFS albumin cell separation (high protein, normal cell count), antiganglioside antibodies and axon, or evidence of demyelinating neuropathy neurophysiology. Part of the MFS in patients with clinical manifestations may be complicated, and even symptoms are not typical. A few patients may overlap with BBE or GBS.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Most patients with MFS/GBS overlap syndrome have a good prognosis, and a few patients may experience fluctuations or re-exacerbations. In most patients, after treatment, their neurological function basically recovers within a few weeks or months.

DIAGNOSIS INTERVENTIONS

The patient had ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, weak force, and protein-cell separation in cerebrospinal fluid during the development of the disease. The diagnosis of MFS overlapped with typical GBS was considered. The CSF specific IgG oligoclonal zone and anti-Sulfatide antibody were positive. Anti-GT1a IgG was positive. Anti-GQ1b IgG was positive, which supported the diagnosis of GBS spectrum disorders. According to their common immunological basis, plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is recommended, which can effectively improve the symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.

OUTCOMES

After treatment with glucocorticoids and gamma globulin, the symptoms improved and the patient was discharged.

LESSONS

MFS/GBS Superimposed syndrome is a rare clinical disease. Therefore, more attention should be paid to early diagnosis and treatment of similar patients to avoid misdiagnosis. Cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) examination, neuroelectrophysiology, and GQ1b antibody detection can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Recurrent Miller-Fisher syndrome overlapping Guillain-Barrè syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis: A case report

Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) together with Guillan-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE) are considered to form a continuous clinical spectrum of the same disease, possibly affecting the peripheral and/or central nervous systems, with monophasic symptoms. The frequency of overlapping clinical signs and the risk of recurrence are independent and very low, but no cases of GQ1b-seropositive recurrent MFS overlapping with GBS and BBE have been described so far. Here, we describe for the first time an atypical case of recurrent GQ1b-seropositive MFS overlapping GBS and BBE, 12 years after a previous GQ1b-seronegative typical MFS episode. Our case expands the clinical spectrum of recurrent MFS, and it should prompt clinicians to investigate the presence of anti-ganglioside antibodies in recurrent MFS even when these were negative in the previous episode, especially in those presenting with overlapping spectrum symptoms and a critically ill picture during the second episode.