Guillain–Barré syndrome with ileus and deep vein thrombosis that in pregnancy

Abstract

We report herein the case of a 32–year–old pregnant woman with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) who showed complications of paralytic ileus and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in lower limbs. She developed paresthesia of the distal limbs and muscle weakness of limbs at 23 weeks of gestation. She became unable to walk one week after her initial symptoms. She was diagnosed with GBS on the basis of electrophysiological findings and lumbar puncture showing albuminocytologic dissociation. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was administered for 5 days, and she showed smooth recovery after the IVIG treatment. Ten days after her admission, however, she developed paralytic ileus and DVT in the left common femoral vein–superficial femoral vein. The symptoms of ileus and DVT were improved with the procedure of intestinal tube and anticoagulant therapy with continuous infusion of heparin. She delivered vaginally a healthy newborn at 40 weeks' gestation after receiving a prophylactic placement of an inferior vena cava filter. She was discharged 2 weeks after delivery, and recovered without neurological sequelae. GBS associated with pregnancy is rare. However, paralytic ileus or DVT would be major complications and high mortality risk in these conditions.