Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction: a case report and literature review

• Published in: BMC cardiovascular disorders Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 226
• Main Authors: Wen, Pu-Yuan, Chen, Xian-Wen, Zhang, Min, Chu, Wen-Zheng, Wu, Hong-Liang, Ren, Chao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 01.05.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis; Antibodies; Antigens; Blood clots; Cardiac arrhythmia; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case reports; Cerebrospinal fluid; Complications and side effects; Consciousness; Coronary artery; Coronary vessels; Cytomegalovirus; Diagnosis; EKG; Electrocardiogram; Electrocardiography; Female; Ganglioside GM1; Gangliosides; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - complications; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - diagnosis; Heart attack; Heart attacks; Humans; Illnesses; Immune response; Immune-mediated response; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Immunology; Infections; Intubation; Literature reviews; Male; Mortality; Myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - complications; Nervous system; Paralysis; Pathogenesis; Patient outcomes; Patients; Respiratory failure; Streptokinase; Surgery; Transluminal angioplasty; Vaccines; Ventilators; Ventricle; China; Myocardial infarction; Immune-mediated response; Streptokinase; Guillain–Barre syndrome; Surgery
• ISSN: 1471-2261; 1471-2261
• DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03261-4

Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction occurs infrequently, and its occurrence following percutaneous coronary intervention is extremely rare. Due to the high mortality rate of myocardial infarction and the disability of Guillain-Barre syndrome, early identification of Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction and early intervention can decrease the mortality rate, lead to early recovery, and provide a better outcome. Herein, we reported a rare case of Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. The patient was a 75-year-old woman from China who was admitted to hospital due to sudden loss of consciousness. Electrocardiography showed acute myocardial infarction in the right ventricle and inferior and posterior walls. The patient underwent emergency percutaneous intervention of the posterior collateral artery of the right coronary artery. Soon after, her condition worsened resulting in limb weakness and numbness. Unfortunately, she continued to develop respiratory failure, and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and ventilator-assisted breathing. A physical examination showed hypotonia of all four limbs, complete quadriplegia, bulbar palsy, dysarthria, and tendon areflexia. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G anti-ganglioside antibody analysis was positive with anti-GT1a antibodies (+ +), anti-GM1 antibodies ( +), anti-GM2 antibodies ( +), and anti-GM4 antibodies ( +), and he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction. She was discharged due to poor response to treatment. The patient died two days after being discharged. Myocardial infarction and/or percutaneous coronary intervention may activate immune-mediated response and cause severe complications. Clinician should be alert to Guillain-Barre syndrome after myocardial infarction and/or percutaneous coronary intervention.