Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Heroin Addiction

In two cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute polyneuritis) as a complication of narcotic abuse, the onset of paralysis began approximately 4 and 12 hours after self-administration of opiates intravenously. Bulbar and respiratory paralysis developed in one patient and required prolonged ventilation therapy; the other patient had peripheral muscular and unilateral facial weakness, with minimal respiratory involvement. Increased spinal fluid protein without notable pleocytosis was present in both. (JAMA231:1367-1368, 1975)