Leprosy with Guillain Barre Syndrome: A New Neurologic Manifestation?

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00520.x
• Publication Date: 2014-07-22T09:22:49Z
• Authors: Chander Grover; Samir Kubba; Soni Nanda; Vijay Kumar; Belum Siva Nagi R...
• Keywords: Prednisolone; Plasmapheresis; Nerve biopsy; Skin biopsy

Abstract A 19‐year‐old female patient of lepromatous leprosy with Type II reaction, on multidrug therapy and prednisolone, presented acute onset flaccid quadriparesis. The cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed albumino‐cytologic dissociation. Nerve biopsy showed infiltration lepra bacilli, features vasculitis, demyelination. There were no other identifiable precipitating factors for Guillain Barre Syndrome in this patient. Her condition improved without any steroid therapy. This case emphasizes the hypothesis that cell injury caused by reaction can expose neural antigens incite an autoimmune form Syndrome.