gq1b-ganglioside and Leishmaniasis--Visceral

Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic parasitic infection rarely observed in association with Guillain-Barré syndrome in immunocompetent patients. A 40-year-old immunocompetent woman was admitted to our unit with recent onset difficulty in walking. The neurological examination and electrophysiological study led to the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. During hospitalization, she developed cytopenia involving all three lines revealing visceral leishmaniasis. A few cases of visceral leishmaniasis with neuropathy have been reported, mainly in tropical regions. Neuropathological manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis are probably underestimated. The question is whether Guillain-Barré syndrome and visceral leishmaniasis are causally related.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gangliosides; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Humans; Immunocompetence; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Lymphocytes; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neural Conduction; Peripheral Nerves