Encephalomyeloradiculitis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) as a Complication of Infectious Hepatitis

DYSFUNCTION of the central nervous system has been described as one of the more serious complications of infectious hepatitis.1-2 Ordinarily the picture re-sembles acute alcoholism, hyperinsulinism or anoxia of the brain and is said to indicate a grave prognosis.3 Symptoms suggestive of involvement of the basal ganglia have also been noted,4 but no record of myelitis, radiculitis or neuritis appearing in a patient with acute hepatitis was found in a survey of the recent literature. In 1916 a symptom complex, characterized by clinical evidence of radiculitis and "acellular hyperalbuminosis,, in the spinal fluid was first described.5 The name Guillain-Barre syndrome has been most commonly used to designate this picture. It has also been called infective polyneuritis, radiculitis, myeloradiculitis and "myelitis of obscure origin.,, When the brain stem or cerebral hemispheres are involved, the condition has been referred to as encephalomyeloradiculitis. Grinker6 states that "this syndrome of nerve, root and cord disturbance occur-ring separately or combined, is an acutely appearing condition arising during the