PHARYNGEAL-CERVICAL-BRACHIAL VARIANT: AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME

Abstract

Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant is a rare presentation of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), which is symbolized by oroparhyngeal, cervical and upper limb weakness. It is often wrongly diagnosed as brainstem stroke, myasthenia gravis or botulism. The presence of anti-GT1a and anti-GQ1b ganglioside IgG antibodies and axonal electrophysiological pattern are the hallmark of PCB variant. The treatment is similar to any other variant of GBS. We present here, report of a 20-year-old male, who presented with findings suggestive of PCB variant of GBS but had absent anti-GT1a and anti-GQ1b antibodies and a normal cerebrospinal fluid. He made a remarkable recovery after administration of intravenous immunoglobulins.

Keywords

• Guillain–Barré syndrome (MeSH)
• Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant (Non-MeSH)
• anti-ganglioside antibodies (Non-MeSH)
• Immunoglobulin G (MeSH)
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (MeSH)
• Gangliosides (MeSH)
• GQ1b ganglioside (MeSH)
• trisialoganglioside GT1 (MeSH)
• Immunoglobulins (MeSH)
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (MeSH)
• Electrophysiology (MeSH)