Guillain-Barré syndrome accompanied by central nervous system lupus in a patient with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

We describe a 17-year-old female with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis accompanied by Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) during the course of central nervous system (CNS) lupus. She initially developed CNS lupus, including headache and convulsion. A high-signal area in a magnetic resonance scan of her brain with T2-weighted images was noted, and her cerebrospinal fluid exhibited increased levels of IgG and interleukin-6. Eighteen days after the onset of CNS lupus, polyneuropathy in the lower extremities developed, and a diagnosis of GBS was made. No obvious preceding infections in the upper respiratory or gastrointestinal systems were noted before the onset of GBS, indicating that GBS might be part of the symptoms of CNS lupus.