title: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: We present a 51-year-old woman with clinical and neurophysiological evidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who developed a generalised headache and autonomic dysfunction with sinus tachycardia, hypertension, gastrointestinal motility symptoms and urinary retention. MRI/MRA demonstrated cerebral vasoconstriction and a small convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage which resolved after 3 months. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterised by headache, focal neurological deficits or seizures, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of RCVS complicating autonomic dysfunction in GBS. This case depicts a rare complication of a common condition and also sheds light on the potential mechanism of RCVS. Neurologists should be aware that autonomic dysfunction can lead to RCVS in GBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: dianawei@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Diana Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Teddy Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alan Barber
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014661:Vasoconstriction
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Autonomic dysfunction; Guillain–Barré; Headache; Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome