Autonomic Dysfunction and Plasmapheresis Intolerance in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Case Report

Abu Talha Dakhani *

Afaque Hospital, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.

Sayed Afaque Hyder Inamdar

Afaque Hospital, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.

Zaid Sattikar

Afaque Hospital, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.

Mohsin Al Firdose

Afaque Hospital, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy and a major cause of acute flaccid paralysis, often triggered by antecedent infections through molecular mimicry. Autonomic dysfunction is a significant complication that contributes to morbidity, mortality, and challenges in treatment. We report a case of a 27-year-old previously healthy male who developed progressive ascending weakness following an episode of acute gastroenteritis. Clinical evaluation and electrophysiological findings were consistent with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) with secondary axonal involvement. The patient developed significant dysautonomia, manifesting as tachycardia, hypotension, diaphoresis, and respiratory discomfort during therapeutic plasma exchange. Plasmapheresis had to be discontinued after three sessions due to intolerance related to autonomic instability. The case highlights the clinical complexity of managing GBS with severe autonomic dysfunction and emphasizes the importance of close hemodynamic monitoring and individualized therapeutic strategies in patients undergoing immunomodulatory treatment.

Keywords: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, Guillain-Barré syndrome, plasmapheresis intolerance.


How to Cite

Dakhani, Abu Talha, Sayed Afaque Hyder Inamdar, Zaid Sattikar, and Mohsin Al Firdose. 2026. “Autonomic Dysfunction and Plasmapheresis Intolerance in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Case Report”. Asian Journal of Case Reports in Medicine and Health 9 (1):243-48. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajcrmh/2026/v9i1321.

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