Guillain-Barré syndrome variant with facial diplegia and paresthesias associated with IgM anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 19-year-old woman with facial diplegia and paresthesias (FDP) preceded by flu-like symptoms. We diagnosed the patient with a regional variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome due to decreased tendon reflexes, albuminocytological dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid and demyelinating features on nerve conduction studies. The patient also had IgM anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies, and treatment with glucocorticoids was effective for treating the facial diplegia, but not paresthesia. Therefore, facial palsy may have a different pathophysiology from paresthesia or other symptoms of FDP, which responds to glucocorticoid therapy.