A Case of Bickerstaff's Brainstem Encephalitis with Guillain-Barre Syndrome Presenting Optic Neuropathy and Seizure

ABSTRACT

Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE), characterized by acute ophthalmoplegia and ataxia, often causes impaired consciousness and hyperreflexia. A 17-year-old man was admitted with an acute meningitic condition including high and neck stiffness. His condition rapidly deteriorated over 2 weeks, and he showed ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, seizure, tetraplegia, comatose mentality, and optic neuropathy. Electroencephalography showed diffuse slow waves. Visual evoked potentials showed no responses in the right eye. This is the first case of BBE with Guillain-Barre syndrome presenting with optic neuropathy and seizure.