Variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome: Miller Fisher syndrome, facial diplegia and multiple cranial nerve palsies. 1987

A Shuaib, and W J Becker
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

We report the experience at a large teaching hospital over a 10 year period with Miller Fisher Syndrome, facial diplegia, and multiple cranial nerve palsies. In these patients, absence of drowsiness on examination, normal cranial CT scans, albumino-cytological dissociation on CSF examination and slowing of nerve conduction, all suggest that a peripheral nerve dysfunction is the underlying mechanism. Pertinent literature is reviewed, in an attempt to separate these probable variants of Guillain-Barré Syndrome from brainstem encephalitis, with which they may be confused.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009886 Ophthalmoplegia Paralysis of one or more of the ocular muscles due to disorders of the eye muscles, neuromuscular junction, supporting soft tissue, tendons, or innervation to the muscles. Oculomotor Paralysis,External Ophthalmoplegia,Internal Ophthalmoplegia,Ophthalmoparesis,External Ophthalmoplegias,Internal Ophthalmoplegias,Ophthalmopareses,Ophthalmoplegia, External,Ophthalmoplegia, Internal,Ophthalmoplegias,Ophthalmoplegias, External,Ophthalmoplegias, Internal,Paralysis, Oculomotor
D010243 Paralysis A general term most often used to describe severe or complete loss of muscle strength due to motor system disease from the level of the cerebral cortex to the muscle fiber. This term may also occasionally refer to a loss of sensory function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p45) Palsy,Plegia,Todd Paralysis,Todd's Paralysis,Palsies,Paralyses,Paralysis, Todd,Paralysis, Todd's,Plegias,Todds Paralysis
D011129 Polyradiculoneuropathy Diseases characterized by injury or dysfunction involving multiple peripheral nerves and nerve roots. The process may primarily affect myelin or nerve axons. Two of the more common demyelinating forms are acute inflammatory polyradiculopathy (GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME) and POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY, CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING. Polyradiculoneuritis refers to inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots. Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Autoimmune Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral Autoimmune,Peripheral Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease,Polyradiculoneuritis,Polyradiculoneuritides,Polyradiculoneuropathies
D012021 Reflex, Abnormal An abnormal response to a stimulus applied to the sensory components of the nervous system. This may take the form of increased, decreased, or absent reflexes. Hyperreflexia,Hyporeflexia,Abnormal Deep Tendon Reflex,Abnormal Reflex,Abnormal Reflexes,Bulbocavernosus Reflex, Decreased,Bulbocavernousus Reflex Absent,Hoffman's Reflex,Palmo-Mental Reflex,Reflex, Absent,Reflex, Acoustic, Abnormal,Reflex, Anal, Absent,Reflex, Anal, Decreased,Reflex, Ankle, Abnormal,Reflex, Ankle, Absent,Reflex, Ankle, Decreased,Reflex, Biceps, Abnormal,Reflex, Biceps, Absent,Reflex, Biceps, Decreased,Reflex, Corneal, Absent,Reflex, Corneal, Decreased,Reflex, Decreased,Reflex, Deep Tendon, Abnormal,Reflex, Deep Tendon, Absent,Reflex, Gag, Absent,Reflex, Gag, Decreased,Reflex, Knee, Abnormal,Reflex, Knee, Decreased,Reflex, Moro, Asymmetric,Reflex, Pendular,Reflex, Triceps, Abnormal,Reflex, Triceps, Absent,Reflex, Triceps, Decreased,Reflexes, Abnormal,Absent Reflex,Decreased Bulbocavernosus Reflex,Decreased Reflex,Palmo Mental Reflex,Pendular Reflex,Reflex Absent, Bulbocavernousus,Reflex, Decreased Bulbocavernosus,Reflex, Hoffman's,Reflex, Palmo-Mental
D002524 Cerebellar Ataxia Incoordination of voluntary movements that occur as a manifestation of CEREBELLAR DISEASES. Characteristic features include a tendency for limb movements to overshoot or undershoot a target (dysmetria), a tremor that occurs during attempted movements (intention TREMOR), impaired force and rhythm of diadochokinesis (rapidly alternating movements), and GAIT ATAXIA. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p90) Adiadochokinesis,Ataxia, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Dysmetria,Dysmetria,Cerebellar Hemiataxia,Cerebellar Incoordination,Hypermetria,Adiadochokineses,Ataxias, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Ataxias,Cerebellar Dysmetrias,Cerebellar Hemiataxias,Cerebellar Incoordinations,Dysmetria, Cerebellar,Dysmetrias,Dysmetrias, Cerebellar,Hemiataxia, Cerebellar,Hemiataxias, Cerebellar,Hypermetrias,Incoordination, Cerebellar,Incoordinations, Cerebellar
D003389 Cranial Nerve Diseases Disorders of one or more of the twelve cranial nerves. With the exception of the optic and olfactory nerves, this includes disorders of the brain stem nuclei from which the cranial nerves originate or terminate. Cranial Neuropathies,Cranial Neuropathies, Multiple,Neuropathies, Cranial,Cranial Nerve Disorders,Cranial Nerve Palsies,Nervus Cranialis Disorders,Cranial Nerve Disease,Cranial Nerve Disorder,Cranial Nerve Palsy,Cranial Neuropathy,Cranial Neuropathy, Multiple,Multiple Cranial Neuropathies,Multiple Cranial Neuropathy,Nervus Cranialis Disorder,Neuropathies, Multiple Cranial,Neuropathy, Cranial,Neuropathy, Multiple Cranial,Palsies, Cranial Nerve,Palsy, Cranial Nerve
D003391 Cranial Nerves Twelve pairs of nerves that carry general afferent, visceral afferent, special afferent, somatic efferent, and autonomic efferent fibers. Cranial Nerve,Nerve, Cranial,Nerves, Cranial
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005158 Facial Paralysis Severe or complete loss of facial muscle motor function. This condition may result from central or peripheral lesions. Damage to CNS motor pathways from the cerebral cortex to the facial nuclei in the pons leads to facial weakness that generally spares the forehead muscles. FACIAL NERVE DISEASES generally results in generalized hemifacial weakness. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION DISEASES and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause facial paralysis or paresis. Facial Palsy,Hemifacial Paralysis,Facial Palsy, Lower Motor Neuron,Facial Palsy, Upper Motor Neuron,Facial Paralysis, Central,Facial Paralysis, Peripheral,Facial Paresis,Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Upper Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Central Facial Paralyses,Central Facial Paralysis,Facial Palsies,Facial Paralyses, Central,Facial Paralyses, Peripheral,Palsies, Facial,Palsy, Facial,Paralyses, Central Facial,Paralyses, Facial,Paralyses, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Central Facial,Paralysis, Facial,Paralysis, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Peripheral Facial,Pareses, Facial,Paresis, Facial,Peripheral Facial Paralysis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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