A unique case of Miller Fisher-Guillain-Barré overlap syndrome in a liver transplant recipient.
Claudia Ramirez-SanchezRehan R SyedAngela MeierJamie Nicole LaBuzettaDiana J HyltonMahnaz TaremiPublished in: Journal of neurovirology (2021)
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an ascending demyelinating polyneuropathy often associated with recent infection. Miller Fisher syndrome represents a variant with predominant facial and cranial nerve involvement, although Miller Fisher and Guillain-Barré overlap syndromes can occur. Guillain-Barré spectrum syndromes have been thought to be rare among solid organ transplant recipients. We describe an immunocompromised patient with a liver transplant who presented with ophthalmoplegia and bulbar deficits. His symptoms rapidly progressed to a state of descending paralysis involving the diaphragm; he then developed acute respiratory failure and eventually developed quadriparesis. Electromyography and a nerve conduction study demonstrated a severe sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy consistent with Miller Fisher variant Guillain-Barré syndrome. Despite several negative nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction, a serology for SARS-CoV-2 IgG was positive. He was diagnosed with Miller Fisher-Guillain-Barré overlap syndrome with rapid recovery following treatment with plasma exchange. Although Guillain-Barré is a rare complication in solid organ transplant recipients, this case highlights the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment of neurologic complications in transplant patients. Furthermore, it demonstrates a possible case of neurological complications from COVID-19 infection.
Keyphrases
- respiratory failure
- sars cov
- case report
- end stage renal disease
- coronavirus disease
- mechanical ventilation
- traumatic brain injury
- newly diagnosed
- chronic kidney disease
- ejection fraction
- prognostic factors
- risk factors
- physical activity
- intensive care unit
- soft tissue
- pulmonary arterial hypertension
- pulmonary artery
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- smoking cessation