Ptosis as the initial presentation of guillain-barré syndrome

Hao Wen Teng, Jia-Ying Sung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome has been regarded as a spectrum of diseases with many variants. Objective: To present a case in which, when the ocular muscles are affected in the beginning, it is very challenging to distinguish Guillain-Barré syndrome from myasthenia gravis. Case Report: We describe a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome who presented initially with isolated ptosis without ophthalmoplegia and subsequently developed descending paralysis. Due to the primary involvement of the lid levators, the patient was initially diagnosed as having a myasthenic crisis. Conclusion: Although extremely rare, Guillain-Barré syndrome can present initially as isolated ptosis with subsequent descending paralysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e283-e285
JournalJournal of Emergency Medicine
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2012

Keywords

  • descending paralysis
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • myasthenia gravis
  • myasthenic crisis
  • ptosis without ophthalmoplegia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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