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Case Reports
. 2020 Aug 17;12(8):e9804.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.9804.

Post-Vaccination Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Funmilola T Taiwo  1 , Daniel E Ezuduemoih  2 , Philip B Adebayo  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Post-Vaccination Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Funmilola T Taiwo et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is very rare. It is characterized by weakness of the upper extremities associated with bulbar symptoms and facial diplegia. Documented cases were post-infectious, a post-vaccination occurrence has not been documented in the available literature. Even rarer is the occurrence of any variant of GBS following the mumps measles rubella (MMR) vaccine. The neurophysiological hallmark of PCB variant of GBS is a combination of myelinopathy and axonopathy, hence, its consideration as a subtype of the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant. It should be suspected in any case of acute-onset flaccid symmetrical weakness of the upper extremities, as early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing fatal bulbar weakness. Here we report a case of a middle-aged man, who presented with features of PCB a fortnight after being vaccinated for MMR.

Keywords: case report; guillain-barré syndrome; mmr; pharyngeal-cervical-variant; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Needle EMG of the right trapezius showing neurogenic MUPs and increased polyphasia.
EMG, electromyogram; MUPs, motor unit potentials
Figure 2
Figure 2. Needle EMG of the left rhomboid muscles showing neurogenic MUPs.
EMG, electromyogram; MUPs, motor unit potentials
Figure 3
Figure 3. Right and left spinal accessory CMAPs at day 90.
CMAP, compound motor action potential
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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