title: Guillain-Barré syndrome and cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy.
abstract: We report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome and associated cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy. A 15-year-old black adolescent had progressive ascending paralysis and vague sensory symptoms during week 10 of her first pregnancy. Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome was confirmed by electrophysiologic findings consistent with acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. A mild elevation of anti-GM1 antibodies was also detected. The patient improved with plasmapheresis treatment; however, fetal death occurred 10 weeks later. Cytomegalovirus placentitis was confirmed histologically. Acute demyelinating polyneuropathy during pregnancy warrants consideration of a concomitant, primary maternal and fetal cytomegalovirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile 36617, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mendizabal
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bassam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy