Lyme neuroborreliosis mimics Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune dysfunction which includes your immune system mistakenly attacking the peripheral nerves exterior of the mind and spinal wire. It usually presents with weak spot and/or tingling sensations within the legs, which might progress and unfold to the arms and higher physique.

 

On this case report, the authors describe a 33-year-old man with Lyme neuroborreliosis, who was initially recognized with Guillain-Barré Syndrome based mostly on his scientific, radiographic and neurodiagnostic check outcomes.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome “can vary from a really delicate case with transient weak spot to just about devastating paralysis, leaving you unable to breathe independently.”¹

GBS usually develops after an individual has had an an infection. “In as much as 70% of people that’ve had GBS, their signs began inside one to 6 weeks of an sickness.”²  It can be triggered by vaccines or surgical procedure.

Of their article, “Neuroborreliosis presenting as Guillain-Barré syndrome,” Farr et al. describe a case of neuroborreliosis (neurologic Lyme disease) the place scientific, radiographic and neurodiagnostic findings mimicked GBS.³

A 33-year-old man offered to the emergency division with progressive weak spot and numbness in each fingers and ft following an higher respiratory tract an infection and an belly rash.

“The affected person reported that his signs began one week in the past as a “tingling sensation” in his fingers and ft with perioral numbness together with a concurrent fever, nonproductive cough, and a “blotchy” belly rash,” the authors state.

A bodily examination additionally revealed bilateral facial palsy, in addition to hyporeflexia at his knees and ankles with downgoing plantar responses. And, he had a decreased sensation to gentle contact under the elbows and as much as his knees.

Moreover, findings from an MRI and needle electromyography (EMG) advised the affected person had Guillain-Barré syndrome, also referred to as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

“Given the scientific, radiographic, and neurodiagnostic concern for GBS, the affected person was began on a five-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG),” Farr states.

Nonetheless, the person didn’t reply to remedy. And, his situation worsened. Respiratory issues required a tracheostomy.

Since he didn’t reply to IVIG remedy, the affected person was examined for Lyme disease, as he reported incessantly being in wooded areas and had an belly rash, together with a fever and cough previous to growing GBS-like signs.

Western blot testing was constructive for Lyme disease.

The person’s signs improved considerably after a 4-week course of remedy with IV ceftriaxone and doxycycline.

“Eight months after the beginning of signs, the affected person had recovered considerably,” the authors state.