Guillain-Barre syndrome in the course of EBV infection after kidney transplantation - a case report

Background: Neurological complications are quite frequent in patients after solid organ transplantation, mostly affecting the central nervous system, and less frequently the peripheral nerves. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a reactive autoimmune disease of the nervous tissue, is the most common cause of acute polyneuropathy in adults following a viral or bacterial infection. GBS has been also linked to neurotoxic adverse effects of calcineurin inhibitors. This syndrome occurs relatively frequently in patients after bone marrow transplantation, but has been a rare complication in solid organ transplant recipients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is relatively common in transplant recipients and in some cases may lead to neurological complications. Case Report: In this report we present an interesting case of a patient who developed GBS in the course of EBV infection 1 year after kidney transplantation. Conclusions: In patients with rapid development of polyneuropathy after transplantation, Guillain-Barre syndrome should be excluded.