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Overlapping Guillain–Barré syndrome and Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with anti‐GQ1b IgG antibody after herpes simplex virus infection
Author(s) -
Yuki N.,
Susuki K.,
Odaka M.,
Hirata K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2001.00288.x
Subject(s) - guillain barre syndrome , herpes simplex virus , medicine , encephalitis , virology , antibody , immunology , herpesviridae , virus , viral disease
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare, antecedent infectious agent in Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). We report a patient with overlapping GBS and Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE). The patient had a vesicular lesion on her nose. Antecedent HSV type 1 (HSV‐1) infection was confirmed by isolation of the virus and detection of the presence of serum anti‐HSV‐1 IgM antibody during the acute phase. Her serum IgG had high anti‐GQ1b antibody titer. External ophthalmoplegia has been noted in 2 of 4 reported cases of HSV‐associated GBS. Herpetic brainstem encephalitis cases of poor prognosis are known, but only 2 cases of benign brainstem encephalitis secondary to HSV infection, in which there was acute ophthalmoplegia and clinical features consistent with those of BBE have been reported.