ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS INFECTION WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME IN ENDEMIC AREAS OF SOUTH-INDIA

This study is a report of 34 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) ob served in Bangalore (South India), an endemic area for Japanese enceph alitis virus (JEV) infection. Virological and immunological findings s uggested an antecedent and recent JEV infection in 21/34 patients. Nin eteen patients among them showed high levels of JEV-specific IgM antib odies in serum and/or CSF, while the viral antigen could be demonstrat ed in one case and virus isolation from the CSF was successful in one patient. EMG studies revealed features of predominantly demyelinating neuropathy in 18/25 cases. Comparison of clinical findings, duration o f illness and outcome in GBS patients with evidence of JEV infection a nd those without did not reveal any differences. Pathological findings in one patient corroborated the association of JEV with GBS. We concl ude that, JEV infection may predispose to Guillain-Barre syndrome in e ndemic areas.