Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis with monospecific anti-GT1a antibody: A subtype of Guillain–Barre syndrome

Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis is an uncommon post-infectious causing autoimmune neurological disease, which is usually associated with the GQ1b antibody. We described a young man with recent upper respiratory tract infection, who presented with sudden onset of left eye ptosis with internuclear ophthalmoplegia, staccato speech with left-sided hemiplegia but with normal deep tendon reflexes. The cerebral imaging was normal and cerebrospinal fluid analysis produced no cyto-albuminologic dissociation, negative result of tuberculosis culture and virus PCR. He was tested positive for serum GT1a IgG antibody. We discussed this case as the neurological presentation was severe, in the presence of GT1a IgG antibody.