Unilateral Facial Palsyin Guillain–Barré Syndrome, A Hyperreflexic Variant Case

Abstract

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a form of rapidly progressive, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy is the most common variant of GBS, especially in the western hemisphere. It is diagnosed without hesitation when it presents with its characteristic clinical features of ascending paralysis and areflexia. It is when an atypical presentation appears, with brisk or very brisk reflexes, that diagnosis becomes difficult. In this case, a patient who presented with progressive motor weakness, unilateral facial palsy, and hyperreflexia on examination is described in order to demonstrate a variant of GBS and its management. Keeping in mind that the management of the disease does not change with the variant, the diagnostic challenge that is put forward by those variants needs a focussed approach by physicians.