Sarcoidosis presenting with an acute Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Department of Medicine, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
A 28 year old Caucasian male presented with an acute Guillain-Barré syndrome and bilateral facial weakness. He had an abnormal chest radiograph. Lumbar puncture revealed acellular fluid with a raised protein count and lung function tests showed a restrictive ventilatory defect. The patient deteriorated and required mechanical ventilation for 14 days. Steroids and plasmapheresis were not used and the patient spontaneously recovered. Two months after presentation limb power was almost normal but there was residual partial bilateral facial weakness. The chest radiograph remained abnormal and repeat lung function tests showed a persistent restrictive ventilatory defect and a reduced gas transfer coefficient. A transbronchial biopsy revealed non-caseating granulomata. The association between neurosarcoidosis and Guillain-Barré polyneuropathy is discussed and the literature reviewed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Joseph, F G, Scolding, N J
(2007). Sarcoidosis of the nervous system. PN
7: 234-244
[Abstract] [Full Text]
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
