Some science behind the scenes
BBE
Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE) - is characterized by acute onset of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, disturbance of consciousness, hyperreflexia or Babinski's sign. The course of the disease can be monophasic or remitting-relapsing.
Large, irregular hyperintense lesions located mainly in the brainstem, especially in the pons, midbrain and medulla, are described in the literature.
Despite severe initial presentation, BBE usually has a good prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis of BBE.
A considerable number of BBE patients have associated axonal Guillain–Barré syndrome [GBS] , indicative that the two disorders are closely related and form a continuous spectrum.
GBS and BBE - their causes and the observations associated with them are treated in the more general section Nervous system diseases.