Transverse Myelitis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with Cat-Scratch Disease, Texas, USA, 2011

Abstract

We describe a case of coexisting transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome related to infection with Bartonella henselae proteobacterium and review similar serology-proven cases. B. henselae infection might be emerging as a cause of myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome and should be considered as an etiologic factor in patients with such clinical presentations.

Keywords

• Bartonella henselae
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• transverse myelitis
• cat-scratch disease
• United States
• serology