Guillain-Barré syndrome in the course of EBV infection after kidney transplantation – a case report
Anna Masajtis-Zagajewska, Katarzyna Muras, Alina Mochecka-Thoelke, Ilona Kurnatowska, Michal Nowicki
Ann Transplant 2012; 17(3): 133-137
DOI: 10.12659/AOT.883468
Available online: 2012-09-26
Published: 2012-09-26
Background: Neurological complications are quite frequent in patients after solid organ transplantation, mostly affecting the central nervous system, and less frequently the peripheral nerves. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a reactive autoimmune disease of the nervous tissue, is the most common cause of acute polyneuropathy in adults following a viral or bacterial infection. GBS has been also linked to neurotoxic adverse effects of calcineurin inhibitors. This syndrome occurs relatively frequently in patients after bone marrow transplantation, but has been a rare complication in solid organ transplant recipients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is relatively common in transplant recipients and in some cases may lead to neurological complications.
Case Report: In this report we present an interesting case of a patient who developed GBS in the course of EBV infection 1 year after kidney transplantation.
Conclusions: In patients with rapid development of polyneuropathy after transplantation, Guillain-Barré syndrome should be excluded.
Keywords: Guillain-Barre sydrome, EBV infection, Kidney Transplantation
