Three patients with ophthalmoplegia associated with Campylobacter jejuni

Pediatr Neurol. 2001 Jul;25(1):71-4. doi: 10.1016/s0887-8994(01)00281-8.

Abstract

Cranial polyneuropathy is idiopathic in most patients. Idiopathic cranial polyneuropathy is an acute postinfectious syndrome, along with Guillain-Barré syndrome and Miller Fisher syndrome, in which the common preceding pathogen is Campylobacter jejuni. Serum anti-GQ1b antibodies are elevated in Miller Fisher syndrome and Guillain-Barré syndrome with ophthalmoplegia. Three patients with idiopathic cranial polyneuropathy with predominant ocular involvement are presented. C. jejuni isolated from stool specimens belonged to Penner serotypes O:4, O:23, and O:33. Serum anti-GQ1b antibodies were elevated in all patients but demonstrated rapid reduction concomitant with clinical recovery. All patients recovered completely. Because both preceding C. jejuni infection and elevated anti-GQ1b antibodies decreasing with time were seen in all patients, the pathogenesis of idiopathic cranial polyneuropathy with ophthalmoplegia may be similar to that of Miller Fisher syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Campylobacter Infections / complications*
  • Campylobacter Infections / immunology
  • Campylobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Campylobacter jejuni / immunology
  • Campylobacter jejuni / isolation & purification*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cranial Nerve Diseases / immunology
  • Cranial Nerve Diseases / microbiology*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Glycolipids / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oculomotor Nerve / immunology
  • Ophthalmoplegia / microbiology*
  • Remission, Spontaneous

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Glycolipids