title: Axonal pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome without Anti-GT1a IgG antibody.
abstract: We report two cases of pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The patients developed dysphagia and weakness of the neck and arms subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni infection. Oropharyngeal palsy recovered poorly. Electrophysiological findings demonstrated axonal conduction failure. Anti-GD1a immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was detected in one case, and anti-GM1b IgG antibody in another. Anti-GT1a IgG and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were negative in both cases. The current cases suggest that the PCB and axonal variants of GBS form a continuous spectrum from the viewpoint of electrophysiological studies as well as antiganglioside serology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Mikatahara-cho 3453, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 433-8558, Japan. arai-m@sis.seirei.or.jp
authors.forename: Motomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Susuki
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000473:pathology*; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000473:pathology*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C084318:GT1aalpha ganglioside