Pediatric Guillain-Barré Syndrome Post Organ Transplant: Acute and Chronic Complication Requiring High Index of Suspicion.
Liora Rabizadeh, Paola Pergami
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
Two pediatric patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following organ transplantation. The first patient experienced rapid weakness post-liver transplant amid organ failure and adenovirus infection, showing severe motor axonal involvement. The second patient, years after small bowel transplant, presented with ascending weakness and MRI findings of cauda equina enhancement. Both improved with intravenous immunoglobulin despite elevated tacrolimus levels.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for Guillain-Barré syndrome in pediatric transplant recipients, as it can present with atypical features and may be mistaken for medication toxicity or other complications.
Why it matters
Recognizing GBS early in transplant patients is crucial for timely intervention, which can significantly improve patient outcomes.