Guillain Barre syndrome mimicking brain death

J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2024 Apr 4:14782715241244839. doi: 10.1177/14782715241244839. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTA 49-year-old female patient presented at the hospital with a history of herpetic blisters, frequent episodes of vomiting and loose stools, bilateral upper and lower limb weakness, and diminishing sensorium. She was diagnosed with hyponatraemia and respiratory failure and later became unconscious with absent brainstem reflexes. The patient was initially treated for herpetic encephalitis, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation, hyponatraemia and neuroparalytic snake bite. Further evaluation, however, identified the uncommon Guillain Barre syndrome presentation with overlap of Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis. This is an uncommon disorder characterised by the involvement of higher mental functions, fixed dilated pupils, absent brainstem reflexes and quadriplegia that resembles a neuroparalytic snake bite and brain death. After receiving intravenous immunoglobulins for treatment, the patient completely recovered.PMID:38576167 | DOI:10.1177/14782715241244839
Source: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research