Bickerstaff's Brainstem Encephalitis Combined with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A casereport

Authors

Yi-Ping Cheng
Jo-Tong Chen
Ta-Shen Kuan

Translated Title

畢氏腦幹腦炎合併Guillain-Barré症候群：病例報告

Abstract

Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis is a post-infectious brainstem inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. The characteristic symptoms include: acute ophthalmoplegia with diplopia, ataxia, disturbed consciousness, and extensor plantar response. In this report we describe a 33-year-old woman with Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome that presented 25 days after a Cesarean section. After five treatments with plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobin for 5 days, the patient's muscle strength recovered to MRC 4/5. The ophthalmoplegia and bilateral extensor plantar responses also disappeared. The patient then was transferred to the PM&R department for persistent slurred speech, ataxia, and diplopia. The rehabilitation program included training to improve muscle strength and endurance, motor control, balance, and gait training. After intensive treatment and rehabilitation, the patient experienced a successful recovery in neurological and functional status.

Language

Traditional Chinese

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.6315/2007.35(1)07

First Page

49

Last Page

56

Recommended Citation

Cheng, Yi-Ping; Chen, Jo-Tong; and Kuan, Ta-Shen (2007) "Bickerstaff's Brainstem Encephalitis Combined with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A casereport," Rehabilitation Practice and Science: Vol. 35: Iss. 1, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6315/2007.35(1)07
Available at: https://rps.researchcommons.org/journal/vol35/iss1/7