Neuroborreliosis: the Guillain-Barré mimicker.

Abstract

A 34-year-old woman presented to the medical admissions unit with progressive ascending weakness of her limbs and areflexia. Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome was suspected and she was started on intravenous immunoglobulins. Owing to a poor initial response, further exploratory history revealed travel to the New Forest and a possible tick bite; subsequent investigations confirmed positive serology for antibodies against Borrelia. The patient's weakness improved with intravenous ceftriaxone for neuroborreliosis, a manifestation of Lyme disease. With inpatient neurorehabilitation, she made good recovery and was able to mobilise with a stick from being completely bed bound 6 weeks after completion of her antibiotics.

• Authors: Niharika Tyagi, Tim Maheswaran, Sunil Wimalaratna
• Journal: BMJ case reports (BMJ Case Rep) Vol. 2015 (Jun 25 2015) ISSN: 1757-790X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26113585 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Lyme Disease (diagnosis, pathology)
• Nervous System (pathology)
• Tick Bites