Tubercular Meningitis with Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy-Trigger or Chance

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a global pandemic with diverse neurological manifestations.
• Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) association with TB is rarely reported.
• Tubercular meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of TB affecting the central nervous system.

Observation:

• A young female with TBM, undergoing antitubercular therapy and steroids, developed acute areflexic quadriparesis.
• The patient's condition was diagnosed as acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy, a subtype of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP).

Findings:

• This case presents the first documented association between tubercular meningitis and the subsequent development of AIDP.
• The patient showed positive response to plasmapheresis, indicating a potential treatment avenue.

Implications:

• Highlights a novel neurological complication of TBM.
• Suggests AIDP as a differential diagnosis in TBM patients presenting with peripheral neuropathy.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering autoimmune-mediated neurological complications in infectious diseases.