Bickerstaff's Brainstem Encephalitis and Miller Fisher Syndrome: A Rare Overlap

A rare illness known as "Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis" (BBE) is characterized by an abrupt brainstem dysfunction and includes the triad of diminished consciousness, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. It differs from the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) by involving the central nervous system (CNS) and frequently manifesting as reduced consciousness. Here, we describe a rare instance of Bickerstaff's encephalitis coexisting with MFS, where the patient had rapidly progressing quadriplegia, VII cranial nerve palsy, and episodes of unconsciousness.