[Influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalitis: unknown makes undertreated?].

Background: Influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalitis (ANE) is a very rare, but severe complication from influenza infection.

Case Description: We present a 48 year old male who presented with fever, malaise, confusion and altered mental status (E4M5V2) and influenza A infection. He quickly develops convulsions after which he is intubated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit following which he remains comatose (E1M1V1).

High and Persistent Anti-GM1 Antibody Titers Are Associated With Poor Clinical Recovery in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy that may follow a preceding infection inducing a cross-reactive antibody response to glycosphingolipids in peripheral nerves. The immune response in GBS is considered to be short lasting, explaining its monophasic clinical course. However, the disease course varies between patients, and residual deficits frequently occur.

Guillain-Barré syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a potentially life-threatening postinfectious disease characterized by rapidly progressive, symmetrical weakness of the extremities. About 25% of patients develop respiratory insufficiency and many show signs of autonomic dysfunction. Diagnosis can usually be made on clinical grounds, but lumbar puncture and electrophysiological studies can help to substantiate the diagnosis and to differentiate demyelinating from axonal subtypes of GBS.

Paraparetic Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Objective: To define the clinical and diagnostic characteristics of paraparetic Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with weakness restricted to the legs, compared with the classic quadriparetic GBS.

Methods: Prospectively collected data from a cohort of 490 patients with GBS, previously involved in therapeutic or clinical studies, were used to define the demography, clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, and clinical course in patients with paraparesis during a 6-month follow-up.

Results: Forty patients (8%) presented with a paraparesis without weakness of arms and hands.

Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and validation of Brighton criteria.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute polyradiculoneuropathy with a variable clinical presentation. Accurate diagnostic criteria are essential for patient care and research, including clinical trials and vaccine safety studies. Several diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome have been proposed, including the recent set by the Brighton Collaboration.