Isolated Peripheral Nerve Relapse Masquerading as Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

We report a 30 year old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) whose leukemic relapse presented as an isolated symmetrical peripheral neuropathy with facial diplegia. Initially, this was consistent with a Guillain-Barré syndrome but the peripheral nerve biopsy revealed leukaemic infiltration. This was followed by a systemic relapse. Reports of peripheral nerve infiltration are scarce and to the best of our knowledge this is the first documented case of peripheral polyneuropathy as a presenting manifestation of ALL relapse.

Key Words:

• Acute leukemia
• peripheral nerve disorders