title: Co-Cccurrence of Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Primary Sjögren Syndrome in an Elderly Woman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Co-occurrence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and other autoimmune diseases is rare. We present the case of a patient with co-occurrence of GBS and primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  An 82-year-old woman presented with acute ascending flaccid paralysis and acute respiratory failure. Nerve conduction studies and cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis of GBS of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy subtype. The initial unresponsiveness to plasma exchange therapy raised the suspicion of other potential diseases. She was later proved to have underlying pSS. Her neurological deficits and respiratory failure improved dramatically with combination therapy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and immunosuppressive agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pSS should be considered as a possible cause of refractory GBS, particularly in elderly women. Combination therapy with IVIg and immunosuppressive agent may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology/Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Feng-Cheng
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Tay
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors