Bilateral oculomotor nerve palsy in Guillain-Barre syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. GBS is also called acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis. Cranial nerves are affected in over 50% of all cases, with the facial nerves being affected the most. Otherwise, oculomotor nerves affection is rare and might occur in about 10% of cases. In this case report we present 61 years old female with GBS (acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy subtype) associated with bilateral oculomotor nerve palsy. At the admittance in the neurological status were flaccid paraplegia, tendon reflexes absent at legs and reduced at arms, sensory disturbances in a distal (stocking-glove) distribution and bilateral ptosis. The disease was diagnosed on clinical features, nerve conduction velocity test (NCV), electromyogram (EMG) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests. After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and physical treatment the patient improved. She was able to walk by her own, mild semiptosis remained and she had no paresthesia.