Episodes of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with the acute phase of HIV-1 infection and with recurrence of viremia

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 64; no. 3A; pp. 606 - 608
• Main Authors: de Castro, Gleusa, Bastos, Patrícia Gomes, Martinez, Roberto, de Castro Figueiredo, José Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.09.2006; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: acute demyelinating neuropathy; Acute Disease; Adult; AIDS; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - diagnosis; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - therapy; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - virology; HIV Infections - complications; HIV-1; HIV-1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - administration & dosage; Male; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Recurrence; recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome; Severity of Illness Index; Viral Load; Viremia - complications; recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome; HIV-1 infection; acute demyelinating neuropathy; síndrome de Guillain-Barré recorrente; infecção pelo HIV-1; AIDS; neuropatia desmielinizante aguda
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X; 1678-4227
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2006000400016

We report a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) characterized by flaccid areflexive tetraplegia and signs of autonomic instability related to acute HIV-1 infection, and the occurrence of relapse episodes coinciding with the detection of HIV-1 RNA in blood during the phase of irregular treatment with antiretroviral agents. The patient has been asymptomatic for 3 years and has an HIV-1 load below the limit of detection. The recurrence of GBS in this case may be related to alterations of the immunologic response caused by disequilibrium in the host-HIV relationship due to the increase in HIV-1 viremia.