Bilateral ballism in a patient with overlapping Fisher’s and Guillain-Barré syndromes
- Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321–0293, Japan
- Dr Odaka, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321–0293, Japan. Fax 0081 282 86 5884.
- Received 23 April 1998
- Revised 15 June 1998
- Accepted 19 June 1998
Abstract
A 29 year old woman developed diplopia and ataxic gait. Neurological examination showed total ophthalmoplegia, cerebellar ataxia, and areflexia. Moreover, there was muscle weakness in all four limbs. An overlap of Fisher’s and Guillain-Barré syndromes was dignosed. On day 5 she suddenly developed involuntary flinging movements that affected the face and four limbs. Surface EMG showed 1.5–2 Hz rhythmic grouping discharges. The involuntary movements were considered ballism. This is the first report of a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome and a related disorder who showed ballism.
