International Journal of Tropical Medicine
ISSN: Online 1818-779XISSN: Print 1816-3319
172
Views
22
Downloads
Abstract
Guillain‐Barre Syndrome (GBS), a severe immune‐mediated neuropathy, and tuberculosis (TB), a significant infectious disease, rarely present concurrently. It may be due to malnutrition and antitubercular therapy's neuropathic effects, however it is rare in tubercular infection patients. A 75‐year‐old male with a history of smoking and alcohol use presented with respiratory symptoms and was diagnosed with active pulmonary TB. The patient had no significant family history of tuberculosis, nor was there any record of contact with a TB patient. The patient developed bilateral limb weakness and sensory disturbances, leading to an acute motor axonal neuropathy variant of GBS. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, the condition worsened, causing respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest. The pathogenesis of GBS in TB patients might involve molecular mimicry, where immune responses triggered by TB mistakenly target peripheral nerves. The severity of axonal variants of GBS, which have poorer prognoses than demyelinating types, is highlighted. The case report underscores the importance of suspecting Guillain‐Barré Syndrome in tuberculosis patients presenting with neurological manifestations. It suggests that prompt administration of Intravenous Immunoglobulins can significantly improve patient outcomes. The correlation between infectious and immune‐mediated neurological conditions warrants further investigation, particularly in high TB prevalence regions like India, where early and aggressive treatment is crucial to recovery.
How to cite this article:
Jaladi Paul Rahul Ephraim, Viritha Pandu, Anim Roopa, Srilakshmi Maddala, Naveen Sandy Roberts Adepu, Podalakuru Prasanth and Reddy Bhargavi. TB and GBS: An Intricate Dual Challenge.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makijtm.2024.2.137.140
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1816-3319/10.36478/makijtm.2024.2.137.140