[Guillain-Barré syndrome in patients treated for Hodgkin disease]

Abstract

Introduction: A 14-year-old boy treated with Hodgkin's disease developed muscular weakness and pain, hypotonia, abolished deep tendon reflexes. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid showed albuminocytologic dissociation, the characteristic finding of Guillain-Barré syndrome. After high dose steroid treatment complete recovery occurred.

Discussion: Paraneoplastic neuropathies may develop in patients with cancer, Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs in patients with active Hodgkin's disease.

Conclusions: Progressive neurological signs may indicate the presence of a malignancy, or in case of chemotherapy shows the activity of the tumour.