Sarcoidosis and Gullain-Barré Syndrome

Abstract

A 35-year-old female presented with three days' history of aching discomfort in her back, chest, and ankles. She had also noticed increasing weakness of her legs and a week before admission had shown flu-like symptoms. Chest X-ray showed bilateral hilar and right paratracheal lymphadenopathy. Bronchoscopic biopsies revealed noncaseating granuloma. She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and was given prednisolone. The patient developed facial palsy and rapidly progressive ascending paralysis beginning from the lower extremities on the third and fourth days after initial presentation, respectively. Analysis of lumbar puncture showed acellular fluid with a high protein content. EMG was consistent with diffuse sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy. Thus, the diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) presenting with sarcoidosis. Intravenous immune globulin was given and prednisolone stopped. One month after initial presentation the patient was completely recovered and discharged on prednisolone therapy. If neurologic symptoms such as aching discomfort and weakness are the main complaints in patients with suspected or biopsy proven sarcoidosis, GBS should be suspected.