Variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome: Miller Fisher syndrome, facial diplegia and multiple cranial nerve palsies

Abstract

We report the experience at a large teaching hospital over a 10 year period with Miller Fisher Syndrome, facial diplegia, and multiple cranial nerve palsies. In these patients, absence of drowsiness on examination, normal cranial CT scans, albumino-cytological dissociation on CSF examination and slowing of nerve conduction, all suggest that a peripheral nerve dysfunction is the underlying mechanism. Pertinent literature is reviewed, in an attempt to separate these probable variants of Guillain-Barré Syndrome from brainstem encephalitis, with which they may be confused.