Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for Bickerstaff’s brainstem encephalitis (BBE), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

Disorder	Featured characteristics	Supportive evidence
BBE	Acute ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, disturbed consc-iousness or hypereflexia	Abnormal lesions on brain MRI; EEG showing abnormal slow-wave activity; anti-GQ1b IgG antibody in serum; Albuminocytological dissociation in the CSF
MFS	Acute ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia	Albuminocytological dissociation in the CSF; anti-GQ1b IgG antibody in serum
GBS	Acute symmetrical limb weakness and areflexia	Albuminocytological dissociation in the CSF; relatively mild sensory loss; cranial neuropathy; EMG showing demyelination or axonal damage in peripheral nerves and spinal roots

CSF cerebrospinal fluid; MRI magnetic resonance imaging; EMG electromyogram; EEG electroencephalogram.