Fulminant Guillain-Barre Syndrome Mimicking Cerebral Death Following Acute Viral Hepatitis A.

Author: Bong Hui KANG ¹ ; Kwang Kuk KIM
Author Information

1. Department of Neurology, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. kkkim@amc.seoul.kr
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Fulminant Guillain-Barre syndrome; Acute hepatitis A; Brain death
MeSH: Adult; Brain Death; Brain Stem; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Guillain-Barre Syndrome*; Hepatitis A*; Hepatitis*; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Pupil Disorders; Quadriplegia; Reflex; Respiratory Insufficiency
From:Journal of Clinical Neurology 2007;3(2):105-107
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: A 32-year-old man was transferred to an intensive care unit due to respiratory difficulties with a 4-day history of progressive areflexic quadriparesis following acute hepatitis A. A nerve-conduction study revealed inexcitability of most nerves. The cerebrospinal fluid showed albuminocytologic dissociation, suggesting Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The patient appeared brain dead on day 4, showing absent brainstem reflexes, respiratory failure, and fully dilated and fixed pupils. This case is an example of how GBS can evolve and simulate a brain-dead state from fulminant deafferentation following acute hepatitis A.