ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Introducción: El síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB) es la principal causa de parálisis en niños, y la variante faringo-cérvico-braquial (FCB) es poco común. Esta variante atípica se asocia con secuelas y requiere rehabilitación prolongada. Dado el enfoque predominante durante el tratamiento agudo, este estudio describe la evolución motora, respiratoria y funcional de un niño con SGB, variante FCB, en un centro de neurorrehabilitación durante el período subagudo. Presentación del caso: Un niño de 11 años ingresó con cuadriparesia fláccida y un mayor compromiso en los miembros superiores (MMSS), traqueotomizado y dependiente para las actividades de la vida diaria. Recibió un programa de evaluación y abordaje interdisciplinario intensivo. Logró la decanulación, la marcha y la independencia funcional con adaptaciones, y fue dado de alta luego de 16 semanas. Conclusión: La evolución del caso concuerda con lo reportado en la literatura sobre la presencia de secuelas y los tiempos prolongados de recuperación de la variante FCB. El niño recibió rehabilitación interdisciplinaria intensiva durante 16 semanas y, aún luego de un año, continuaba presentando debilidad a nivel distal de los MMSS y fatiga. Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de una intervención temprana y una rehabilitación integral en pacientes pediátricos con esta variante particular del SGB.
ABSTRACT Introduction: The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the primary cause of paralysis in children, with the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant being rare. This atypical form is associated with sequelae and requires prolonged rehabilitation. Given the predominant focus during acute treatment, this study describes the motor, respiratory, and functional clinical course of a child with GBS, PCB variant, in a neurorehabilitation center during the subacute period. Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy was admitted with flaccid quadriparesis and greater involvement of the upper limb (UL), tracheotomized, and dependent for activities of daily living. He underwent an intensive interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment program. The patient achieved decannulation, gait, and functional independence with adaptations, and was discharged after 16 weeks. Conclusion: The clinical course of the case aligns with the literature regarding the presence of sequelae and prolonged recovery times of the PCB variant. The child underwent intensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation for 16 weeks and, even after one year, continued to experience weakness in the distal UL and fatigue. These findings highlight the importance of early intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation in pediatric patients with this particular variant of GBS.
ABSTRACT
A Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB) é uma polineuropatia autolimitada, na maioria das vezes de mecanismo autoimune pós-infeccioso. Este caso tem por objetivo relatar uma variante rara do espectro da SGB. O método utilizado foi o acompanhamento clínico do paciente e revisão de prontuário. Conclui-se que conhecimento acerca da FCB e alto grau de suspeição são importantes para o diagnóstico diferencial de pacientes que apresentam sintomas bulbares e fraqueza de membros superiores, principalmente pela gama de diagnósticos diferenciais que os sintomas podem sugerir.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a self-limited polyneuropathy, most often by a post-infectious autoimmune mechanism. This case aims at reporting a rare variant of the GBS spectrum. The method used was clinical monitoring of the patient and medical record review. It was concluded that knowledge of the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant and high degree of suspicion are important for the differential diagnosis of patients with bulbar symptoms and weakness of the upper limbs, particularly because of the range of differential diagnoses the symptoms may suggest.
Subject(s)
Humans , Polyradiculoneuropathy , Guillain-Barre SyndromeABSTRACT
El síndrome de Guillain-Barré es una polineuropatía desmielinizante inflamatoria aguda, existiendo variantes locorregionales poco frecuentes como la faringo-cérvico-braquial. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 63 años de edad que acudió a urgencias por debilidad de extremidades superiores y a nivel cervical, con incapacidad para deglutir y masticar, y una insuficiencia respiratoria aguda rápidamente progresiva por debilidad de músculos respiratorios, todo ello secundario a la variante faringo-cérvico-braquial del síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Esta variante, aunque poco frecuente, presenta un patrón clínico y unos criterios diagnósticos bien definidos, importantes de reconocer para poder así iniciar de forma precoz el tratamiento y mejorar el pronóstico, no siempre favorable, de estos pacientes.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Infrequent loco-regional variants, like the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial, have been described. We report the case of a 63-year-old male admitted to the emergency department with cervical and upper limb weakness, inability to swallow and chew, he also presented a rapidly progressive acute respiratory failure due to weakness of the respiratory muscles secondary to the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. This variant, although unusual, presents a well-defined clinical pattern and diagnostic criteria, which is important in order to start an early treatment to improve the prognosis, not always favorable, to these patients.