Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with recurrent acute demyelinating polyneuropathy

We report a patient who in the course of 3 years developed 3 distinct episodes of an acute demyelinating neuropathy, each fulfilling the criteria set up by an ad hoc committee of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke for acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. Each episode was associated with strong serological evidence for lupus erythematosus. The episodes were separated by 1-2 years and each was followed by near complete clinical recovery. The only systemic feature was a pleural effusion during the last 2 episodes.