One of the varieties of the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is an offshoot of a clear picture of the processes occurring in the body of a sick person, is Miller-Fischer syndrome. It is characterized by a triad of signs that appear the same in all patients.
Definition
Guillain-Barré syndrome is quite rare. In medical practice, its indicators are 1-2 people per hundred thousand of the population. It appears more often in men and has two peaks of its activity:
- young age - 20-24;
- older – 70-74 years old.
He is well known to neurologists and has a number of characteristic features, confirmed by the delivery of cerebrospinal fluid tests. In addition to the classical course of this disease, there is Fisher Miller syndrome, described by this American neurologist back in 1956.
Symptoms
The disease is extremely rare and refers to acute inflammatory autoimmune diseases in which the myelin nerve sheaths are affected. At the beginning and atfurther development of the Miller-Fisher syndrome always manifests itself in the same way and consists of the following series of symptoms characteristic of it:
- areflexia - there is a sharp fading, and later a complete absence of limb reflexes;
- ataxia - cerebellar disorders;
- ophthalmoplegia - paralysis of the muscles of the eye, often external, and in difficult cases, internal;
- tarapez and paralysis of the respiratory muscles - develop in severe, neglected cases.
With correct identification of symptoms and timely initiation of treatment, the disease proceeds benignly, does not cause complications and often ends in spontaneous recovery.
Reasons
If you see a doctor in a timely manner, Miller-Fischer syndrome can be cured in a few weeks or months. How long they live with such a disease is not exactly clear, nor are the reasons for its appearance clear. But for most people with such a diagnosis, experts promise the most favorable prognosis. Full recovery of all functions in the body with proper and appropriate treatment takes a maximum of ten weeks. And only a small number of patients with advanced cases require a number of additional medical measures.
Some medical figures say that often the cause of the development of this pathology is the usual vaccination. In some cases, it was detected after severe viral diseases, sometimes symptoms appeared after long-term treatment of a number of complex infections. Family cases of development are also knowndiseases that suggest a genetic predisposition of the body to this pathology.
Clinical indicators
The leading complaints that the patient provides are primarily expressed in the following aspects:
- weakness, loss of strength, lack of energy, possible dizziness;
- difficulties with chewing, and a little later with speech;
- difficulties in walking and self-care;
- frequent numbness of the hands and feet, undulating pains in the limbs.
It is descending paralysis - a violation in the movement of the eyes, and then other limbs (the feeling of the presence of gloves on the hands) that manifests the Miller-Fisher syndrome. The symptoms are very similar to Hein-Barré syndrome, but this type of pathology has an ascending paralysis - from the lower body to the upper.
In addition to weakness of the oculomotor muscles, impaired coordination and complete loss of reflexes, the patient may also have a number of secondary symptoms that contribute to a more accurate diagnosis.
- Temperature sensitivity of the skin is noticeably lower.
- The patient is almost insensitive to pain.
- Saliva becomes difficult to swallow.
- Speech is broken, words are difficult to pronounce.
- No gag reflex.
- Complaints of bladder problems.
Some of the symptoms, such as muscle weakness and difficulty speaking, may occur quite spontaneously. They clearly indicate a serious complication of the situation and requireimmediate specialist advice.
Diagnosis
In order to accurately identify Miller-Fischer syndrome, a number of necessary studies are required.
- A mandatory visit to a neurologist who examines and identifies all possible neurological disorders.
- Spinal puncture shown. In most cases, it reveals high protein values characteristic of this disease.
- PCR analysis - allows you to determine the possible pathogen. It can be herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and others.
- Often, a specialist additionally prescribes computed tomography, which helps to identify possible comorbidities of a neurological nature.
- A mandatory blood test is given, showing the presence of anti-ganglioside antibodies. This is a clear indicator of the presence of an inflammatory process, a positive result of this analysis becomes an accurate confirmation of the diagnosis.
Miller-Fischer syndrome requires a comprehensive and most accurate diagnosis, electroneuromyrography, a differential analysis that compares symptoms with a number of similar diseases.
Therapy
Treatment of this disease includes a set of measures aimed at suppressing the immune response and cleansing the blood of antibodies. Proper supportive and symptomatic therapy allows you to completely eliminate the Miller-Fisher syndrome in a short time. Treatment under the guidance of an experiencedspecialist leads to the most positive results and full recovery. In extremely rare cases (only three percent of the total), relapses are possible, suggesting an additional course of complex therapy.
- The respiratory system is being assessed, in cases where it is difficult for the patient to move independently, a hospital with constant medical supervision is assigned.
- During the first five days (no later than two weeks after the first detection of symptoms), plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin are prescribed.
- Anticoagulants are used to prevent possible vein thrombosis.
- Requires constant monitoring of blood pressure, as its sudden changes can lead to serious complications.
- Additionally, classes are held with a speech therapist.
