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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep 27:17:809-817.
doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S462543. eCollection 2024.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Complicated by Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Case Report

Yao Sun  1 , Huiying Zhao  1 , Youzhong An  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Complicated by Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Case Report

Yao Sun et al. Int Med Case Rep J. .

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) stands out as the most prevalent and severe acute immune-mediated paralytic neuropathy. Approximately 30% of patients experience respiratory failure necessitating admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive mechanical ventilation. The management of diseases concomitant with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) poses significant challenges. This case report illustrates the swift development of ARDS in a patient with GBS, explores the utility of the biomarker neurofilament light chain, and highlights the unexpected advantages of proactive ARDS intervention.

Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome; case; severe acute respiratory distress syndrome; ventilation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the study was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be interpreted as potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bedside chest X-ray showed diffuse infiltrative shadows in both lungs and no significant cardiac shadow enlargement (the X-ray on the day of admission).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chest CT showed diffuse infiltrative shadows in both lungs, combined with some solid lesions, visible inflatable air duct sign, and gravity-dependent lesion sites (Chest CT on 14 December).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The bilateral lung lesions were significantly less severe than before, with relatively incomplete absorption of inflammation on the dorsal side, and fibrous streak shadows were prominent on the dorsal side (Chest CT on 19 December).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cranial MRI results revealed no significant abnormalities (MRI of T1 flair on 6 January).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The chest CT findings indicated the presence of residual fibrous streaks in the lower lungs bilaterally (Chest CT on 8 January).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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