Headache and intracranial hypertension in Guillain-Barré syndrome: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy that leads to sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms. We report a 26-year-old female patient with GBS revealed headache and limbs weakness. Treatment with gammaglobulin and corticosteroids led to a rapid improvement of muscle strength. However, she developed more severe headache and increased intracranial pressure which can be relieved by ventricular drainage during recovery period of GBS. Headache and increased intracranial pressure in GBS was relatively rare. This report reviews some literatures about this disorder and analyses possible pathophysiological mechanisms of intracranial hypertension in GBS. We should pay attention to patients who exhibit atypical presentations.

Keywords:

• Headache
• intracranial hypertension
• papilloedema
• Guillain-Barré syndrome

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.