Case Report: Subacute onset of the motor-sensory axonal neuropathy variant of Gullain-Barré syndrome after epidural anesthesia

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute ascending peripheral neuropathy, caused by autoimmune damage of the peripheral nerves. GBS can be divided into three subtypes: acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, acute motor axonal neuropathy, and the more rare type, acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). Reports of AMSAN with onset after epidural anesthesia and spinal surgery are extremely rare, and the linkage between development of GBS and neuroaxial anesthesia remains conclusively unconfirmed. We present a case in which the patient developed subacute motor and predominantly sensory neuropathy following epidural blockade. The case emphasizes the need of including AMSAN in differential diagnostic considerations to changes in motor and sensory function following epidural anesthesia, allowing accelerated rehabilitation and relevant alleviating therapy.