Treatment of Dysphagia with Pyridostigmine Bromide in a Patient with the Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
10.5535/arm.2012.36.1.148
- Author:
Kwang Lae LEE
1
;
Oh Kyung LIM
;
Ju Kang LEE
;
Ki Deok PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul 142-884, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Guillain-Barre syndrome;
Dysphagia;
Pyridostigmine bromide
- MeSH:
Action Potentials;
Axons;
Bulbar Palsy, Progressive;
Deglutition;
Deglutition Disorders;
Follow-Up Studies;
Guillain-Barre Syndrome;
Humans;
Male;
Meals;
Muscles;
Ophthalmoplegia;
Polyradiculoneuropathy;
Pyridostigmine Bromide;
Shoulder;
Young Adult
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2012;36(1):148-153
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A 24-year-old male developed bulbar palsy, ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, and shoulder weakness bilaterally 2 weeks after he had experienced an upper respiratory infection. The electrodiagnostic study demonstrated axonal polyradiculoneuropathy. The repetitive nerve stimulation study (RNS) showed no significant decrement of the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). The videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) showed severe impairment of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. He was diagnosed as having the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The patient's dysphagia was not improved for 3 months. A follow up RNS showed a significant decrement of the CMAPs. Pyridostigmine bromide was tried to improve the dysphagia. The patient showed immediate improvement of his dysphagia on the VFSS after the trial with pyridostigmine bromide. Pyridostigmine bromide was given before each meal for 8 days and he showed continuous improvement of his dysphagia. The follow up VFSS after 3 months showed complete recovery of dysphagia.
