A Rare Case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome With Severe Pandysautonomia

Acute pandysautonomia is a rare disorder characterized by autonomic failure affecting sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric functions. We present a case of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) with severe pandysautonomia in a young, otherwise healthy, female who presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and sensory demyelinating polyneuropathy, which progressively worsened and subsequently developed bladder dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension. We discuss the challenges with diagnostic workup as well as the challenges we encountered as part of the management.

Autonomic and sensory ganglionopathy occurring in a patient with fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus

A 63-year-old male with a previous infection was admitted to our hospital because of acute pancreatitis. Although he had no history of diabetes mellitus, laboratory examinations revealed marked hyperglycemia on admission, and intensive insulin treatment was required. After 2 weeks, he developed severe pandysautonomia and sensory impairment, and eventually died from colonic perforation caused by paralytic ileus at 1 year after onset. Autopsy findings showed a complete loss of pancreatic islet beta cells with mild fibrosis of the exocrine pancreas. Neuropathological examination showed myelin loss of the dorsal fasciculus at all levels of the spinal cord and ganglionopathy of the dorsal root and sympathetic truncus, revealing degeneration of ganglion cells and a decrease in their number with the formation of Nageotte nodules. On the basis of this clinicopathological evidence, fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and idiopathic immune-mediated autonomic neuropathy were suspected. Here, we suggest a close etiological relationship between both diseases.

A pediatric case of severe pandysautonomia responsive to plasmapheresis

We describe a 13-year-old female with abrupt onset urinary retention progressing rapidly to pandysautonomia with symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, gastroparesis, anhidrosis, pupillary dysfunction, and abdominal pain. Pandysautonomia has been reported frequently in adults, but is less commonly described in children. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction usually has a self-limiting course with gradual near-complete or complete recovery. Most patients with pure pandysautonomia produce an antibody targeted against the ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and titers have been shown to correlate with symptom severity. The clinical presentation described in this report is consistent with a progressive form of acute autoimmune autonomic neuropathy, but she was initially seronegative for known autoantibodies. She responded promptly to plasmapheresis. This case report emphasizes the importance of recognizing features of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and discusses the medical evaluation and treatment options for pediatric patients based on symptom severity.