Chronic arsenic poisoning masquerading as Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Acute arsenic intoxication may present as Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome because of similarities in clinical symptoms involving the gastrointestinal tract, weakness, and sensory symptoms. Electrodiagnostic findings may be similar with demyelinating changes predominating early in both diseases. A case is presented of repeated arsenic poisoning over two years misdiagnosed as Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome. Proximal F-loop latency (M-wave latency at wrist + F-wave latency at wrist - 2 M-wave latency at axilla) helped to establish the correct diagnosis. Serial electrodiagnostic studies were done documenting the evolution of chronic repeated arsenic poisoning from a picture showing demyelination to one with severe axonal loss.
Goddard
M J
MJ
University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45267.
Tanhehco
J L
JL
Dau
P C
PC
D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology