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Malhis JR, Mahmoud A, Belote A, et al. Case of ehrlichiosis induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a 71 year-old female. IDCases. 2021;26:e01301doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301.
Malhis, J. R., Mahmoud, A., Belote, A., & Ebers, A. (2021). Case of ehrlichiosis induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a 71 year-old female. IDCases, 26e01301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301
Malhis, Joseph R, et al. "Case of ehrlichiosis induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a 71 year-old female." IDCases vol. 26 (2021): e01301. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301
Malhis JR, Mahmoud A, Belote A, Ebers A. Case of ehrlichiosis induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a 71 year-old female. IDCases. 2021 Oct 05;26:e01301. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34729357; PMCID: PMC8546407.
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IDCases. 2021 Oct 05;26:e01301. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301. eCollection 2021.

Case of ehrlichiosis induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a 71 year-old female.

IDCases

Joseph R Malhis, Aysam Mahmoud, Alex Belote, Andrew Ebers

Affiliations

  1. UAMS Northwest Fayetteville, AR, USA.
  2. Mercy Northwest Arkansas, Rogers, AR, USA.

PMID: 34729357 PMCID: PMC8546407 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01301

Abstract

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy that causes an ascending paralysis and flaccid weakness. Tick paralysis is a mimic of GBS as symptoms include generalized weakness and paralysis. However, symptom onset and timing as well as lab findings can distinguish between them. We present a case of a 71-year-old female who complained of generalized weakness and dizziness starting three weeks prior to admission. During that time, she had fevers and chills and a questionable insect bite. Her lab values indicated thrombocytopenia and elevated liver enzymes. PCR titers were positive for ehrlichiosis and she was started on doxycycline then discharged. She returned over a week later with worsening symptoms despite treatment. There was concern she may had Heartland or Bourbon virus but titers were negative. Her neurological exam showed numbness and areflexia in her lower extremities which progressed since her first encounter. She was given IVIG and her symptoms improved and recovered slowly. Although ehrlichiosis is not a common cause for GBS, the pathogenesis is like Lyme disease or

© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

References

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  2. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 May;21(5):760-4 - PubMed
  3. J Med Entomol. 2018 May 4;55(3):701-705 - PubMed

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