Rare. Autoimmune neurological disorder of infectious origin (gastroenteritis) close to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Characterized by: sensory ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, generalized areflexia. Muscle weakness may progress to complete paralysis with respiratory failure.

In general, recovery in less than 6 months. Presence of anti-Gq1b (myelin) antibodies. Recurrence is rare (< 3 %).

Treatment: IV gammaglobulins, plasmapheresis.

Anesthetic implications:

muscle weakness, risk of aspiration pneumonitis if the bulb is affected

References : 

Updated: December 2018