Psychiatria pre prax 2/2020

Miller-Fisher Syndrome in Clinical Practice

Miller-Fisher syndrome is an autoimmune neurologic disease, a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which presents with several clinical forms. The disease is characterised by a triad of ataxia, oculomotor disturbances and areflexia, which develop over a few days after an infective illness. Most severe form is Bickerstaff‘s brainstem encephalitis, which is presenting by mentioned triad and also with disturbed consciousness and other psychopathological symptoms. The disease is rare in the psychiatric practice. However, its correct and early diagnosis and treatment could significantly influence the patient‘s prognosis. Based on a case report of a patient who was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward while undergoing the differential diagnostic process, the article comprehensively presents this relatively rare disease.

Keywords: Miller-Fisher Syndrome, Bickerstaff‘s brainstem encephalitis, neuropsychiatry, autoimmune acute polyradiculonephritis, immunotherapy