Hyperreflexia in axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis.
We describe a patient with the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) form of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), who showed generalized hyperreflexia. A 24-year-old man developed acute paralysis following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. He showed exaggerated tendon reflexes with abnormal reflex spread to other segments, and was initially diagnosed as having post-infectious myelitis. Nerve conduction studies showed motor axonal degeneration (the AMAN pattern), and increased soleus H-reflex amplitudes. His serum was positive for IgG antibodies to gangliosides GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a. He was treated with plasmapheresis, resulting in rapid recovery. Hyperreflexia was still present 12 months after onset when muscle strength was completely normal. This case provides further evidence that patients with AMAN can develop increased motor neuron excitability, and possible mechanisms for the hyperreflexia are discussed.
Kuwabara
Satoshi
S
Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. kuwabara@med.m.chiba-u.ac.jp
Nakata
Miho
M
Sung
Jia-Ying
JY
Mori
Masahiro
M
Kato
Naoko
N
Hattori
Takamichi
T
Koga
Michiaki
M
Yuki
Nobuhiro
N
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D004751:Enteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005732:Gangliosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G