Guillain barre syndrome in pregnancy – Successful management with IVIG- A case report

Abstract

Guillain Barre Syndrome is a rare immune mediated acute demyelinating polyradiculopathy, uncommon in pregnancy, but with increased mortality and morbidity. It poses a great diagnostic challenge. Good outcomes can be achieved in these patients with multidisciplinary team involvement. We would like to highlight the need for obstetricians to keep this rare cause in mind by describing the case report of a pregnant lady who presented to our hospital with muscle weakness and how timely diagnosis by appropriate investigations-nerve conduction studies and timely treatment with IVIG prevented complications. 1. Delay in diagnosis is common in pregnancy due to initial nonspecific symptoms which mimic changes in pregnancy. 2. GBS should be considered in pregnant patients presenting with weakness, tingling and numbness. 3. Early diagnosis by involving multidisciplinary team, appropriate investigations (NCS) and prompt initiation of immunomodulatory treatment improves outcomes. 4. Management in pregnancy is like that in the non-pregnant population.