Campylobacter coli infection causes spinal epidural abscess with Guillain-Barré syndrome: a case report.
BMC Neurol
; 22(1): 9, 2022 Jan 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34979984
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and spinal epidural abscess (SEA) are known as mimics of each other because they present with flaccid paralysis following an infection; however, they differ in the main causative bacteria. Nevertheless, the two diseases can occur simultaneously if there is a preceding Campylobacter infection. Here, we report the first case of SEA with GBS following Campylobacter coli infection. CASE PRESENTATION A 71-year-old Japanese man presented with progressive back pain and paralysis of the lower limbs following enteritis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lumbar epidural abscess that required surgical decompression; therefore, surgical drainage was performed. Blood cultures revealed the presence of C. coli. Despite surgery, the paralysis progressed to the extremities. Nerve conduction studies led to the diagnosis of GBS. Anti-ganglioside antibodies in the patient suggested that GBS was preceded by Campylobacter infection. Intravascular immunoglobulin therapy attenuated the progression of the paralysis.CONCLUSIONS:
We report a case of SEA and GBS following Campylobacter infection. A combination of the two diseases is rare; however, it could occur if the preceding infection is caused by Campylobacter spp. If a cause is known but the patient does not respond to the corresponding treatment, it is important to reconsider the diagnosis based on the medical history.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Campylobacter Infections
/
Campylobacter jejuni
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Campylobacter coli
/
Epidural Abscess
/
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Year:
2022
Type:
Article