title: Chronic hepatitis B exacerbated by Guillain-Barré syndrome: a report of two cases.
abstract: Several neurologic complications involving both the central and peripheral nervous systems due to acute viral hepatitis have been described, but Guillain-Barré (G-B) syndrome occurring as a complication of chronic viral hepatitis is extremely rare. Although it is generally agreed that G-B syndrome develops as an immune-mediated reaction, its exact pathogenesis remains obscure. We report the cases of two patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection acutely exacerbated by the development of G-B syndrome. G-B syndrome was diagnosed by nerve conduction velocity studies, electromyographic studies and a rise in acellular total protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (albumino-cytologic dissociation). In these two patients, we were able to accurately define the relationship between the onset of acute exacerbation of chronic HBV infection and G-B syndrome. The neurologic symptoms of G-B syndrome resolved with the return of liver enzymes to normal. Interferon therapy may be beneficial in relieving neurologic symptoms in patients with HB infection-related G-B syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha