Sudden Onset of Paraplegia With Rapid Progression to Tetraplegia in a Middle-Aged Man: What is the Diagnosis?

Abstract

QUESTION
A 58-year-old man, known case of diabetes mellitus, hypertension presented with sudden onset of bilateral lower limb weakness while resting, to the nearby medical centre. The weakness later progressed to involve bilateral upper limbs, leaving him tetraplegic, 3 hours from symptom onset. He denied chest or back pain. His electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus rhythm, without any acute ischemic changes. There was no preceding febrile illness or injury. His case was referred to our centre with the impression of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS).