Acute superficial sensory neuropathy with generalized anhidrosis, anosmia, and ageusia

Abstract

We report a 53-year-old woman with an unusual presentation characterized by acute onset of generalized sensory symptoms associated with anhidrosis, anosmia, ageusia, and elevated titers of anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies. After intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, a remarkable improvement in the pain and temperature sensation was noted in her face, trunk, and extremities. The impaired pain and temperature sensation remained distributed along cranial and spinal dermatomes in a non-length-dependent manner, suggesting that the ganglionopathy affected small neurons.