Acute bulbar,neck and limb weakness with monospecific anti‐GT1a antibody: A rare localized subtype of Guillain‐Barré sydnrome |
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| Authors: | Nidhi Garg MBBS FRACP Nobuhiro Yuki MD PhD Susanna B. Park PhD Michael H. Barnett PhD FRACP Matthew C. Kiernan DSc FRACP |
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| Affiliation: | Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Introduction: Acute bulbar, neck, and limb weakness carries several potential differential diagnoses. Although a diagnosis can often be established clinically, investigations such as electrodiagnostic and antibody testing can provide support for the clinical diagnosis and may aid in understanding the pathogenesis. A 65‐year‐old woman presented with acute bulbar, neck, and rapidly progressive bilateral upper limb weakness. Methods: Clinical evaluation, electrophysiological, and serological studies were undertaken. Results: Neurophysiology demonstrated proximal conduction block. A clinical diagnosis of pharyngeal‐cervical‐brachial weakness, a localized variant of Guillain‐Barré syndrome, was made. The patient received treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and made a remarkable recovery over the next month. She was found to have serum monospecific anti‐GT1a antibodies. Conclusions: We report a case of pharyngeal‐cervical‐brachial weakness with monospecific anti‐GT1a antibodies and discuss the differential diagnosis of acute bulbar, neck, and limb weakness. Muscle Nerve 53 : 143–146, 2016 |
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| Keywords: | anti‐ganglioside antibodies clinical neurophysiology Guillain‐Barré syndrome immunology pharyngeal‐cervical‐brachial weakness |
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