title: Simultaneous Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in the pediatric population.
abstract: Few cases of simultaneous acute demyelination of the peripheral and central nervous systems are reported. Four patients diagnosed as having Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis during the same hospitalization are described herein. Two patients manifest an atypical form of Guillain-Barré syndrome, with magnetic resonance imaging of the head showing acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. A third patient has acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and develops Guillain-Barré syndrome during his hospitalization. A fourth patient demonstrates transverse myelitis that evolves into Guillain-Barré syndrome, with demyelination seen on brain magnetic resonance imaging. All patients are treated with intravenous immunoglobulins or corticosteroids. Three patients have a favorable outcome; 1 patient has a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis can occur simultaneously in the pediatric population. This may be explained by a shared epitope between peripheral and central nervous system myelin. Further research is necessary to better describe this entity and its prognosis.
authors: Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada. genevievebernard@hotmail.com
authors: Geneviève
authors: G
authors: Bernard
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Riou
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Rosenblatt
authors: Marie-Emmanuelle
authors: ME
authors: Dilenge
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Poulin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011241:Prednisone