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Guillain‐Barré syndrome in immunocompromised patients: A report of three patients and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Qureshi Adnan I.,
Cook Albert A.,
Mishu Husham P.,
Krendel David A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199708)20:8<1002::aid-mus10>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - guillain barre syndrome , medicine , pediatrics , intensive care medicine
Both humoral and cell‐mediated autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Therefore, its occurrence in severely immunocompromised patients is not expected. We identified 3 severely immunocompromised patients who developed GBS. Two of the 3 patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with CD4 counts of 5 and 4 cells/mm 3 , respectively. One post‐cardiac transplant patient was taking azathioprine and cyclosporine at the time of onset of GBS. In all 3 patients, immunocompromise was induced by infectious or chemotherapeutic agents which preferentially suppress T‐lymphocyte responses. All 3 had severe lymphocytopenia and incomplete recovery. We conclude that GBS can occur in patients with severe t‐cell suppression. Although no conclusion regarding prognosis can be drawn from our small group of patients, their incomplete recovery is consistent with the idea that T‐cells are important for recovery. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 20: 1002–1007, 1997