[Guillain-Barré syndrome as a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Report of a case]. / Síndrome de Guillain-Barré como manifestacao do lupus eritematoso sistêmico. Registro de um caso.

The case of a young female patient with acute symmetrical ascending polyneuropathy as a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus is reported. There was involvement of several cranial nerves and the cerebrospinal fluid showed albuminocytologic dissociation. Pathologic examination of the sural nerve showed degeneration of myelinated fibers, fibrosis of the perineurium and endoneurium, and overgrowth of the medial layer of the vasa-nervorum. The authors call attention to the uncommon involvement of the peripheral nervous system in S.L.E. They believe that a abnormal autoimmune reaction could be responsible for the nerve fiber degeneration.