Montreal nephrologist's Guillain-Barré diagnosis offers rare view of paralysis disorder
Dr. Laura Horowitz, who treats kidney disease at the MUHC, was completely paralyzed by the autoimmune condition within two weeks last fall.
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Dr. Laura Horowitz spent her career helping patients manage complex medical conditions at the Montreal General Hospital and leading the Kidney Health Program for Cree communities in Northern Quebec. Last fall, she found herself on the opposite side of the hospital bed when she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that caused complete paralysis in a matter of days.
Horowitz was hospitalized at The Neuro for several weeks. "Over two weeks every day, there was a new thing that I had lost," she said. "By the end, after about two and a half weeks, when I had plateaued, I was completely paralyzed from my feet all the way up."
Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs when the body's own antibodies attack the nerves. Symptoms typically begin with numbness and tingling, usually in the legs, then progress to weakness and difficulty walking. In severe cases, patients may experience difficulty talking or breathing. According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the median incidence is about 1 per 100,000 person-years, with higher rates in older people—the rate increases by 20 per cent for every 10-year increase in age—and in men. The condition is often triggered by a previous infection, including influenza and other viral illnesses.
Her diagnosis meant losing the independence she had always taken for granted. "I work extremely hard, but at the same time, anytime that I'm home, I take care of my children," she said. "I couldn't do that. So I got angry." Her experience as a patient shifted her perspective on healthcare. After spending weeks dependent on nurses and patient care attendants for daily care, she gained a deeper appreciation for the people who support patients during recovery.
Dr. Rami Massie, a neurologist at the Montreal Neurological Hospital, explained that the hallmark of the condition is progression. "If you're having a progression of numbness or tingling over a few days, that is clearly worsening and spreading. And if on top of that you start having weakness or difficulty walking, then that's the biggest clue that it might be" Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The facts
What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body's own antibodies attack the nerves. Symptoms typically begin with numbness and tingling in the legs, then progress to weakness and difficulty walking, and in severe cases may include difficulty talking or breathing.
How common is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the median incidence is about 1 per 100,000 person-years, with higher rates in older people and in men. The rate increases by 20 per cent for every 10-year increase in age.
What triggered Dr. Laura Horowitz's Guillain-Barré diagnosis?
The article does not state what triggered Dr. Horowitz's condition, though it notes that Guillain-Barré syndrome is often triggered by a previous infection, including influenza and other viral illnesses.
Where was Dr. Horowitz hospitalized?
Dr. Laura Horowitz was hospitalized at The Neuro for several weeks after her Guillain-Barré diagnosis.
