Concurrent acute myositis and Guillain-Barre syndrome in Cytomegalovirus infection – a rare case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a double stranded DNA virus and ubiquitous in nature. Association of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and CMV is well known but CMV acute myositis is a rare condition. Restriction of movements of limbs due to severe pain in myositis may obscure the diagnosis of GBS and this may easily miss. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we describe a 29-year-old male presenting with pain and swelling of bilateral lower limbs which progressed rapidly with increasing serum creatine kinase levels with positive IgM CMV antibodies. In view of no improvement in clinical condition, patient was further evaluated and found to have concurrent GBS. He was treated with plasmapheresis and improved. CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus infection presenting as acute myositis is a uncommon and further association with GBS is a rare occurrence.