Open AccessGuillain-Barré syndrome in pregnancy: An unusual case
Author(s) -
Mir Sadaqat Hassan Zafar,
Mohd Mubarik Naqash,
Tariq A. Bhat,
Ghaus M. Malik
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/2249-4863.109965
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , guillain barre syndrome , weakness , caesarian section , incidence (geometry) , obstetrics , antecedent (behavioral psychology) , pediatrics , surgery , psychology , developmental psychology , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is rare in pregnancy with an estimated incidence between 1.2 and 1.9 cases per 100,000 people annually, and it carries a high maternal risk. We report a 29-year-old primigravida who had pain and progressive heaviness of both lower limbs in her third trimester of pregnancy. The attending gynecologist ascribed these symptoms to ongoing pregnancy. The intrapartum period (lower segment caesarian section) passed uneventfully. On third postpartum day, the patient developed weakness of all the four limbs. A detailed history and physical examination pointed toward GBS although there was no antecedent infective episode. Subsequent nerve conduction velocity studies and cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed GBS. All other investigations including electrolytes were normal. The patient improved without the introduction of immunomodulating therapy.