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Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine 12(2):p 112-115, April-June 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.11
Case Report
When the Eyes Speak First: A Rare Case of Anti-GQ1b Syndrome in a Young Adult
Vinit Kumar, Unnati Singh, Surjeet Acharya, Kishalay Datta
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine 12(2):p 112-115, April-June 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.11
How Cite This Article:
Vinit Kumar, Unnati Singh, Surjeet Acharya, et al. When the Eyes Speak First: A Rare Case of Anti-GQ1b Syndrome in a Young Adult. Ind J Emerg Med. 2026; 12(2): 112-115Timeline
Received : January 23, 2026
Accepted : February 24, 2026
Published : June 30, 2026
Abstract
Anti-GQ1b syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its overlapping central and peripheral nervous system features. We report a case of a 21-year-old male who presented with binocular diplopia, cranial nerve involvement, and limb weakness following a recent febrile illness. Despite initial unresponsiveness to steroid therapy, the patient showed remarkable improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and a delayed anti-GQ1b antibody test confirmed the diagnosis. This case emphasizes the importance of early clinical suspicion and aggressive immunotherapy to prevent long-term complications.
References
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- 2. Bhatia S.S., Canepa C., Notarianni A. Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis mimicking herpetic encephalomyelitis in a liver transplant patient with anti-GQ1b antibodies. BMJ Case Report. 2022; 15(12): e251784.
- 3. Ito H., Hatanaka Y., Fukami Y., et al. Antiganglioside complex antibody profiles in a recurrent complicated case of GQ1b-seronegative Miller Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis: a case report. BMC Neurology. 2018; 18(1): 72.
- 4. Kuwabara S., Yuki N. Acute ophthalmoparesis without ataxia: a variant of anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2021; 92(5): 553-555.
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Vinit Kumar, Unnati Singh, Surjeet Acharya, et al. When the Eyes Speak First: A Rare Case of Anti-GQ1b Syndrome in a Young Adult. Ind J Emerg Med. 2026; 12(2): 112-115
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | February 24, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.11
Keywords
Anti-GQ1b syndromeBickerstaff brainstem encephalitisMiller Fisher syndromeOphthalmoplegiaIVIg therapyAutoimmune neuropathyDiplopia Central and peripheral demyelinationSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | January 23, 2026 |
| Accepted | February 24, 2026 |
| Published | June 30, 2026 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
