Guillain–Barré syndrome as a parainfectious manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case series

• Published in: Journal of clinical neuroscience 2021-01, Vol.83, p.119-122
• Main Authors: Abolmaali, Meysam, Heidari, Matineh, Zeinali, Marjan, Moghaddam, Parichehr, Ramezani Ghamsari, Mona, Jamshidi Makiani, Mahin, Mirzaasgari, Zahra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged, 80 and over; Case Report; Coronavirus; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; Disease Progression; Facial Paralysis - etiology; Fatal Outcome; Female; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - etiology; Guillain–Barré syndrome; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neural Conduction; Neurologic Examination; Quadriplegia - etiology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0967-5868; 1532-2653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.11.013

•We described GBS symptoms in three infected patients with COVID-19.•The severity of GBS linked to COVID-19 seems considerable in mentioned cases.•AMSAN type of GBS was diagnosed based on electrodiagnostic findings.•GBS must be considered as a rapid progressive neurologic complication of COVID-19. The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to almost all fields of medicine and Neurology is not an exception. Collecting information about its complications and related conditions will help clinicians to become more confident in managing this disease. Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is mostly described as a post-infectious phenomenon and its occurrence during acute phase of illness is of interest. GBS has recently been reported during the active phase of COVID-19 for the first time. Severity and fast progression of GBS associated with COVID-19 have also been shown in recent studies. Here we report three cases of GBS during the active phase of COVID-19 with severe symptoms and fast progression to quadriplegia and facial diplegia over 2 days, which led to death in one case due to severe autonomic dysfunction. We suggest SARS-CoV-2 might be associated with rather a severe, rapidly progressive and life-threatening phenotype of GBS.