Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE): management
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE): management. Anti GQ1b antibodies: these are positive in a third of cases. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Autoantibodies
- Anti GQ1b antibodies: these are positive in a third of cases
- Anti GM1b and GD1a antibodies: these may be present
- Anti GAD antibodies: case report
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
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Electroencephalogram (EEG): features
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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Other investigations
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Treatment
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Acronym
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References
- Odaka M, Yuki N, Yamada M, et al. Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis: clinical features of 62 cases and a subgroup associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome. Brain 2003; 126: 2279-2290.
- Shahrizaila N, Yuki N. Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis and Fisher syndrome: anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome. JNNP 2013; 84:576-583.
- Hardy TA, Barnett MH, Mohamed A, Garsia RJ, Davies L. Severe Bickerstaff's encephalitis treated with Rituximab: serum and CSF GQ1b antibodies. J Neuroimmunol 2012; 251:107-109.
- Cleaver J, James R, Chohan G, Lyons P. Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with anti-GM1 and anti-GD1a antibodies. BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13:e236545.
- Matsuo M, Odaka M, Koga M, Tsuchiya K, Hamasaki Y, Yuki N. Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with IgM antibodies to GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a. J Neurol Sci 2004; 217:225-228.
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