Treatment-Related Fluctuation in Guillain-Barre Syndrome With the Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN) Variant: A Case Report.
Elliot Hernandez, David Dominguez, Raul Medina-Rioja, Victoria Martínez-Angeles, Juan Carlos López-Hernández
Cureus July 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65201 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 60-year-old male patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome |
| Intervention | Intravenous human immunoglobulin |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Amsan variant Case report Guillain-barre syndrome Treatment-related fluctuation Neurology Ayahuasca complications Rare adverse effects Treatment outcomes |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca consumption may trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome with the AMSAN variant, and treatment-related fluctuations can occur, requiring retreatment with immunoglobulin. |
Abstract
We present the case of a 60-year-old male patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who experienced treatment-related fluctuations (TRF) with a history of ayahuasca consumption. The patient presented to the neurological emergency department without a history of infection (upper respiratory tract or diarrhea) or vaccination in the past four weeks, but 14 days prior, the patient had consumed ayahuasca. Upon admission, the patient exhibited progressive weakness in all four limbs, with no cranial nerve involvement, a muscle strength Medical Research Council (MRC) score of 36/60, and generalized areflexia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed slightly elevated protein levels at 50 mg/dL and a cell count of 2 (lumbar puncture was performed three days after the onset of symptoms). Neurophysiological studies met the criteria for the acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant. A diagnosis of GBS was established, Brighton criteria grade 1. The patient received treatment with intravenous human immunoglobulin, resulting in improvement with an MRC score of 48/60 at discharge. However, on day 10, he returned with worsening muscle strength (MRC score of 20/60), necessitating ventilatory support. TRF was considered, and retreatment with human immunoglobulin was initiated.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fatal intoxication following the ingestion of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in an ayahuasca preparation. 25-year-old white male | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| The Diaspora of Brazilian Religions | 2013 | Ethnographic case studies | |
| EEG Gamma Coherence and Other Correlates of Subjective Reports During Ayahuasca Experiences Experienced ayahuasca users | 2005 | Exploratory case series | n = 2 |
| Reply to “Ayahuasca turned on my mind’s eye”: A case of acquired versus congenital aphantasia, as evidenced with DMT use? Individual with apparent congenital aphantasia | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| “Ayahuasca turned on my mind’s eye”: Enhanced visual imagery after ayahuasca intake in a man with “blind imagination” (aphantasia) A man self-diagnosed with long-lasting aphantasia | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |