[Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis].

Fisher syndrome has been regarded peculiar inflammatory neuropathy with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia, whereas Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis has been considered pure central nervous system disease characterized with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and consciousness disturbance. Both disorder share common features including preceding infection, albumin-cytological dissociation, and association with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The discovery of anti-GQ1b IgG antibodies further supports the view that the two disorder represent a single disease spectrum. Currently Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis can be regarded as a variant of Fisher syndrome with central nervous system involvement.