AUTHOR=Zhang Boyu , Duan Liwei , Ma Linhao , Cai Qingqing , Wu Hao , Chang Liang , Li Wenfang , Lin Zhaofen TITLE=Rapidly progressive Guillain–Barré syndrome following amitriptyline overdose and severe Klebsiella pneumoniae infection: A case report and literature review JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.991182 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.991182 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a potentially life-threatening post-infectious autoimmune disease characterized by rapidly progressive symmetrical weakness of the extremities. Herein, we report a case of GBS associated with drug poisoning complicated by Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit after taking an overdose of amitriptyline and was later diagnosed with coma, Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, and septic shock. Thirteen days after admission, she was diagnosed with GBS based on acute muscle pain, flaccid paralysis, hyporeflexia, reduced amplitude of compound muscle action potential, and albuminocytologic dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid. GBS rarely occurs after a drug overdose and septic shock, and this is the first report of a rapidly progressive GBS following amitriptyline overdose and severe Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.