Journal of Clinical Neurology  2007;3(2):105-107

doi:10.3988/jcn.2007.3.2.105

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

Bong Hui KANG 1 ; Kwang Kuk KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Fulminant Guillain-Barre syndrome; Acute hepatitis A; Brain death

Country

Republic 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.