Weakness in both lower limbs for 1 week and blepharoptosis for 3 days in a boy aged 1 year and 7 months

LANG Chang-Hui; TIAN Mao-Qiang; SHU Xiao-Mei

doi:10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2203101

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Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2022, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (8) : 923-927. DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2203101

CASE ANALYSIS

Weakness in both lower limbs for 1 week and blepharoptosis for 3 days in a boy aged 1 year and 7 months

LANG Chang-Hui, TIAN Mao-Qiang, SHU Xiao-Mei

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Abstract

A boy, aged 1 year and 7 months, was hospitalized due to weakness in both lower limbs and blepharoptosis, which showed progressive aggravation and developed into irregular breathing. Neurological examinations showed lethargy, blepharoptosis, grade 4 muscle strength of both upper limbs, grade 3 muscle strength of both lower limbs, and disappearance of tendon reflex. Laboratory tests revealed albuminocytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid, disappearance of H reflex, and positive serum anti-GD1b IgG. The boy was finally diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) overlapping with Miller-Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis. He recovered and was discharged after treatment including immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, and respiratory support. The GBS overlap syndromes in children have strong clinical heterogeneity due to the injury of both peripheral nerve and brainstem, among which anti-GD1b antibody-related GBS overlap syndromes have special clinical manifestations and complex neuroelectrophysiological changes and are thus difficult to diagnose. Nerve conduction velocity tests, especially H reflex test, should be performed for children with weakness in both lower limbs and blepharoptosis.

Key words

Miller-Fisher syndrome / Guillain-Barré syndrome / Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis / Anti-GD1b antibody / Blepharoptosis / Young child

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LANG Chang-Hui, TIAN Mao-Qiang, SHU Xiao-Mei. Weakness in both lower limbs for 1 week and blepharoptosis for 3 days in a boy aged 1 year and 7 months[J]. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. 2022, 24(8): 923-927 https://doi.org/10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2203101

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