The rare coincidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome and myelitis

A 28-year-old male patient developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after a pulmonary infection with typical CSF findings. Five days after the onset, pyramidal signs and spastic increase of muscle tonus in the legs were found. The MRI showed increased signals in the whole spinal cord which were identificated as myelitis after review of clinical and neurophysiologic findings. There was a remarkable difference between the dramatic pathologic signals on MRI and the mild clinical symptoms. Four months after onset the patient had no more complaints and presented basically recovered in the clinical examination. The existence of Guillain-Barre syndrome together with myelitis is very rare. A patient with such a good outcome in spite of an extended myelitis is extraordinary.