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Ivan AP, Odajiu I, Popescu BO, Davidescu EI. COVID-19 Associated Guillain–Barré Syndrome: A Report of Nine New Cases and a Review of the Literature. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58080977. [PMID: 35893091 PMCID: PMC9332472 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58080977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS)—a rare condition characterized by acute-onset immune-mediated polyneuropathy—has been registered as a neurological manifestation of COVID-19, suggesting a possible link between these two conditions. Methods: We report a case series of patients with COVID-19-related GBS hospitalized in the Neurology Department of Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, between March 2020 and March 2021. Several variables were analyzed, such as the mean interval between the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and neurological ones, clinical features, treatment course, and outcome. Further on, we conducted a thorough literature review based on the PubMed and ScienceDirect scientific databases. Results: A total of 9 COVID-19 patients developed symptoms of GBS, out of which in 7, it manifested as an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). Five patients presented respiratory failure, 2 requiring mechanical ventilation. All patients received a course of intravenous immunoglobulins, 2 additionally requiring plasma exchange. Upon discharge, all but 1 patient (who had not regained the ability to walk) had a positive outcome, and 1 died during admission. In the literature review, we analyzed the published sources at the time of writing. Conclusions: A link between COVID-19 and GBS might be possible; therefore, increased vigilance is required in the early identification of these cases for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Some notable differences such as an earlier onset of GBS symptoms, higher respiratory dysfunction, and higher mortality rates in COVID-19 patients have been observed between the presentation of GBS in the context of COVID-19 and GBS of other causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Paula Ivan
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.I.); (I.O.); (E.I.D.)
| | - Irina Odajiu
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.I.); (I.O.); (E.I.D.)
| | - Bogdan Ovidiu Popescu
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.I.); (I.O.); (E.I.D.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurosciences and Experimental Myology, ”Victor Babeș” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Eugenia Irene Davidescu
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.I.); (I.O.); (E.I.D.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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