Association of Guillain-Barré syndrome and Henoch-Schönlein purpura: is immunoglobulin a responsible for the neurologic syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) appeared simultaneously in a 35-year-old woman. During the course of the Guillain-Barré syndrome, the presence of IgA aggregates and a decrease in complement components were noted in the cerebrospinal fluid. These abnormalities disappeared when the neurologic syndrome remitted. This suggests the responsibility of IgA immune complexes, characteristic of HSP, in the occurrence of the associated Guillain-Barré syndrome.