Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is characterized as an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Although the cause and pathogenesis of GBS remain unknown, the fact that most cases of GBS are preceded by an infection suggests that GBS has an immunologic basis. Plasmapheresis can shorten the duration of GBS, but it requires both appropriate equipment and trained medical staff. As an alternative therapy to plasmapheresis, we have tried intravenous high-dose gammaglobulin in a 3-year-old girl with this syndrome. The treatment produced rapid improvement of muscle strength of the patient.
We confirmed that the intravenous high-dose gammaglobulin is useful in the treatment of severe Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A 70-year-old man with continuous diarrhea for over 1 month consulted a primary care doctor. He was treated with oral antibiotics and probiotics but his condition worsened. He developed generalized edema and was referred to our hospital. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan findings were suggestive of colon cancer with accompanying liver metastasis. Total colonoscopy and endoscopy for pathological diagnosis led to a diagnosis of cancer of the sigmoid colon accompanied with liver metastasis or liver abscess. We planned to perform sigmoidectomy with simultaneous resection of the liver lesion. However, we considered that he was not particularly fit to undergo two concurrent surgeries. Therefore, based on his physical condition, we planned to first do a sigmoidectomy. Before surgery, the fever persisted and a repeat CT scan showed deterioration of the liver lesion. We diagnosed the liver lesion as abscess and performed percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage (PTAD). Three days after PTAD, we then performed sigmoidectomy. Subsequently, the liver abscess resolved and gradually disappeared. At 5 years after surgery, there has been no recurrence of the cancer or abscess.