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"Pseudospasticity" in Guillain-Barré syndrome
1Department of Neurology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
Neurology
|January 11, 1991
Summary
Guillain-Barré syndrome can cause unusual arm and hand flexion, mimicking upper motor neuron issues. This posture resulted from continuous motor unit discharges originating in the peripheral nervous system, as shown by EMG.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system.
- Upper motor neuron dysfunction typically presents with spasticity and hyperreflexia.
Observation:
- A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome exhibited a distinct flexion posture of the right arm and hand.
- This posture mimicked clinical signs typically associated with upper motor neuron lesions.
Findings:
- Electromyography (EMG) revealed continuous motor unit discharges.
- These discharges were peripherally generated and involuntary.
- The continuous motor unit discharges were identified as the cause of the observed flexion posture.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of potential clinical manifestations in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
- It highlights the importance of considering peripheral nervous system abnormalities in the differential diagnosis of upper motor neuron-like presentations.
- The findings underscore the utility of EMG in elucidating the pathophysiology of complex neurological symptoms.