Acute ophthalmoplegia with pupillary areflexia associated with anti-GQ1b antibody

Abstract

Raised anti-GQ1b antibody is associated with Miller Fisher syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with ophthalmoplegia, Bickerstaff's brain stem encephalitis, acute ophthalmoparesis without ataxia and ataxic GBS without opthalmoplegia. We report a rare case of acute ophthalmoplegia associated with anti-GQ1b antibody that also had pupillary areflexia. A 35-year-old Chinese lady presented with external ophthalmoplegia, pupillary areflexia and no other abnormalities of cranial nerves, muscle tone, deep tendon reflexes, limb power or cerebellar dysfunction. Anti-GQ1b IgG antibody titre was significantly elevated, while neuroimaging of brain and orbital structures, nerve conduction study and cerebral spinal fluid examination were normal. Pupillary areflexia should be recognized as another feature that may be present in conditions associated with raised anti-GQ1b antibody. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.