title: Guillain-Barré syndrome following chickenpox: a case series.
abstract: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, usually triggered by an infectious episode, mostly of viral origin. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a rare cause of GBS, mainly in the case of latent infection reactivation. We report on three adult patients who developed GBS following chickenpox, after a short period of latency. They were promptly treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, and the first one with plasma exchange additionally. All the patients experienced almost complete clinical recovery. Our experience suggests that primary VZV infection constitutes a GBS triggering event.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Infectious Diseases , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tatarelli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garnero
authors.affiliation: a Division of Infectious Diseases , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Del Bono
authors.affiliation: a Division of Infectious Diseases , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camera
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schenone
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI) , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandis
authors.affiliation: c Neurology Department, S. Andrea Hospital , La Spezia , Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.affiliation: a Division of Infectious Diseases , University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viscoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Guillain–Barré syndrome; VZV; chickenpox