Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Background and purpose: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a serious autonomic complication of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). However, the association between TCM and GBS has not been investigated in detail. We investigated the characteristics of GBS patients with TCM (GBS-TCM). Methods: Clinical features and anti-ganglioside antibody between the GBS-TCM patients and 62 classical GBS patients without TCM as control patients were compared. Results: Eight GBS-TCM patients were identified, in whom TCM was diagnosed at a mean of 6.5 [range 3–42] days after the onset of GBS. The age at onset of GBS was elder in the GBS-TCM patients than in the control GBS patients (76.5 [56–87] vs. 52 [20–88] years, p < 0.01). Notably, cranial nerve deficits, particularly in the lower cranial nerves, were observed in all GBS-TCM patients (100% vs. 41.9%, p < 0.01). Additionally, the GBS-TCM patients showed a higher GBS disability score at nadir (5 [4–5] vs. 4 [1–5], p < 0.01), and lower Medical Research Council sum scores at admission and nadir (37 [30–44] vs. 48 [12–60] at admission, p < 0.05, and 20 [12–44] vs. 40 [0–60] at nadir, p < 0.05, respectively). Mechanical ventilation was more frequently required in the GBS-TCM patients (62.5% vs. 11.3%, p < 0.01). Three GBS-TCM patients were positive for anti-ganglioside antibodies. Conclusions: TCM occurred at a relatively early phase of GBS. The characteristics of GBS-TCM were the elder, lower cranial nerve involvements, severe limb weakness, and respiratory failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]