Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with anti-GM1 and anti-GD1a antibodies.
BMJ Case Rep
; 13(9)2020 Sep 18.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-823795
ABSTRACT
Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE) is a Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) spectrum disorder associated with predominantly central nervous system predilection. Patients exhibit a variable constellation of depressed consciousness, bilateral external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and long tract signs. Although the pathophysiology is not fully understood, it has been associated with anti-GQ1b antibodies in two-thirds of patients. We present a patient with clinical features consistent with BBE and positive anti-GM1 and anti-GD1a antibodies. A diagnostic approach to the acutely unwell patient with brainstem encephalitis is explored in this clinical context with a literature review of the aforementioned ganglioside antibody significance. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy is highlighted in BBE using up-to-date evidence-based extrapolation from GBS.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ataxia
/
Autoantibodies
/
Brain Stem
/
Ophthalmoplegia
/
Encephalitis
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Bcr-2020-236545
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