• Suhong Wang, Shuxin Zhao, and Zhecheng Zhang.
• Department of Neurology, Third Central Hospital of Tianjin.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 May 1; 99 (20): e20227.

RationaleAlthough distal nerves located at sites prone to compression are susceptible to autoimmune attack, Guillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS) with exclusive hand muscle involvement is rarely found in clinics. All reported patients presented with a special variant - finger extensor weakness, especially claw hand caused by predominant ulnar extensor involvement. Similar to typical GBS, these patients showed bilateral symmetric onset with rapid clinical progression.Patient ConcernsA 62-year-old man with GBS was admitted to our hospital with unilateral onset of claw hand. He showed relatively slow progression and did not develop bilateral symmetric claw hands until 6 weeks later.DiagnosesEventually the patient was diagnosed as having a regional variant of GBS by neuronal electrophysiology and cerebrospinal fluid examinations.InterventionsThis patient was treated with intravenous thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of onset. Eventually he was diagnosed as having a regional variant of GBS and was treated with gamma-globulin (400 mg/kg/d) for 5 consecutive days via intravenous infusion.OutcomesThe patient had a slow recovery with persistent mild finger extensor weakness.LessonsThis patient presented with unilateral onset of claw hand, and the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke could not be excluded because of a short time window; hence, he was treated with intravenous thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of onset. Eventually he was diagnosed as having a regional variant of GBS. It is important that GBS should also be considered in patients with unilateral hand weakness and unknown aetiology in the early stages of disease.

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