Guillain - Barre' syndrome following recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and literature review.

ABSTRACT

A 17 year-old woman developed progressive quadriparesis with bilateral facial diplegia after immunization with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine 3 days prior. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed acellular fluid with high protein level. The electrodiagnosis was compatible with demyelinating polyneuropathy. Other potential causes of Guillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS) were ruled out. Her motor power gradually improved and returned to normal later. The temporal relationship between GBS and vaccination was suggestive of a vaccine-induced cause. Mechanisms of this very rare complication are proposed with a literature review.