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Guillain-Barré syndrome after varicella-zoster infection

Report of two cases

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Summary

Two patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome after varicella-zoster infection; a 4-year-old boy after chickenpox and a 74-year-old man after shingles. Both had decreased CD8-positive lymphocytes in the blood during the course of their illness. These cases and others reported in the literature suggest that varicella-zoster infection is a significant but rare trigger factor of Guillain-Barré syndrome. An alteration in the balance of helper and suppressor lymphocytes may be an important pathogenetic mechanism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, SE1 9RT, London, England

    E. A. C. M. Sanders & R. A. C. Hughes

  2. Department of Neurology, State University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    A. C. B. Peters

  3. Department of Immunohaematology, State University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. W. Gratana

Authors
  1. E. A. C. M. Sanders
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  2. A. C. B. Peters
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  3. J. W. Gratana
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  4. R. A. C. Hughes
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Sanders, E.A.C.M., Peters, A.C.B., Gratana, J.W. et al. Guillain-Barré syndrome after varicella-zoster infection. J Neurol 234, 437–439 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314094

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314094

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